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Name: Lokal
Address: 1904 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622
Telephone: (773) 904-8113
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.50

Lokal

1904 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

(773) 904-8113
Store is closed

Lokal Menu

Starters

Grilled Chicken Wings

Mussels

Tuna Tartar

Slow Roasted Pork Belly

Farm Smoked Kielbasa
Salads

Lokal Greens

Arugula (v)
Pierogi

Mushroom (v)

Potato (v)
Sandwiches

Zapi (v)

Lokal Burger

Tuna Burger

Steak Baguette

Po Boy
Market Specials

Goat Cheese Risotto (v)

Ruby Red Trout

Gunthrop Duck Leg Confit

Prairie Pork Tenderloin

Berkshire Pork Shank On The Bone

Angus Ny Strip Steak
Sides

Grilled Asparagus (v)

Truffle Fries

Braised Lentils

Smalec Lard Spread
Desserts

Red Current Crumble

Healthy Meal suggestions for Lokal

Starters

Grilled Chicken Wings [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Tartar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slow Roasted Pork Belly [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Farm Smoked Kielbasa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

Lokal Greens [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugula (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pierogi

Mushroom (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Potato (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Zapi (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lokal Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Burger [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak Baguette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Po Boy [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Market Specials

Goat Cheese Risotto (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ruby Red Trout [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gunthrop Duck Leg Confit [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Prairie Pork Tenderloin [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Berkshire Pork Shank On The Bone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Angus Ny Strip Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Grilled Asparagus (v) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Truffle Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braised Lentils [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Smalec Lard Spread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Red Current Crumble [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Drew F.

I've gone to this place twice in a row for their sunday brunch. Bottomless mimosas/bloody mary's? Polish inspired brunch food?? Yes and yes!! The place is very modern, yet not pretentious. It was clean and definitely reasonably priced. The service has always been friendly and accommodating, yet also laid-back and relaxed (in a good way). I like not seeing my server stressed out or rushed (especially when I'm trying to get my mid-afternoon buzz on). The banana/Nutella frite was amazing, but what was even better was the LOKal sandwich (I suggest getting the eggs over-easy for this). I haven't had a chance to make it there for lunch or dinner during the week, but if you're looking for a solid, laid-back, buzz-inducing brunch spot in Wicker Park you should definitely check this place out.
(5)
Nina H.

This place has delicious food! I had the venison stew and goat cheese risotto. I know, two completely opposite dishes, but they were both sooooo good in such different ways that it kinda ended up being an awesome combination! Plus, I got to try deer meat. Sorry guys, but bambi tasted like heaven. I took off a star for the price and portioning. I did go here with groupon, so it didn't matter so much, but had I gone without it, this would have been a bigger deal. But hey, I guess that's a fancy upscale restaurant for you!
(4)
cindy k.

Had a great time at Lokal this past Sunday for 'brunch'! We ordered the grilled calamari salad, grilled wings and omelet with bacon and spinach and shared a little bit of everything. They piled on the bacon which is very unusual for an omelet but the roasted potatoes were a tad salty! The wings were excellent and grilled to perfection. The calamari salad was good, but I personally didn't care for the dressing and could barely find any basil nor taste any. We met there a little after 11 and by the time we left at 12:30, it was packed so it's best to go early. I would've given it 5 stars but thought it was weird that our server handed us skydiving business cards.
(4)
Sarah A.

Visited for the first time last night, ordered the LOKal burger, which is delicious. The fries are pretty good too, and the beer list is great.
(4)
Andrea B.

We came here on a Sunday evening, and honestly, I was a bit nervous because it was so empty. But, we had our groupon in hand, and it was my birthday after all, so we gave it a shot. The server was wonderful, the food was phenomenal. The perfect blend of flavors in every dish, without being too pretentious (foodie-wise) or over-the-top. The best part - we get the bill, and after a soup, a salad, 2 entrees (granted, some of the cheaper ones), a beer, dessert, AND Chicago's horrendous tax, it totaled at $70 (and we had a groupon, so we paid 20 +tip!) LOKal + me = happy!
(5)
David B.

After a pretty crazy night with some visiting friends, I wanted to treat them to a nice brunch. I'd heard about LOKal's bottomless specials - mimosas and bloody marys!!! Crazy deal. Turns out, that's just the beginning. Given the awesome drink specials, we would've been happy with a mediocre menu, but were pleasantly surprised with a SERIOUS selection of brunch items. Oatmeal fondue, watercress omelets, grilled chicken croissant, margarita sandwich and... ...gotta point out my favorite... NUTELLA FRITES. We're talking bananas, strawberries and (of course) Nutella drizzled over bread french toast-style. They should call this one Heaven wrapped in Christmas. As if the offerings weren't enough, the SERVICE was great too! They knew how to keep us happy by keeping the mimosas and bloody marys full and also helped field some menu questions too. They were busy, but the atmosphere was chill. I've yet to try them out for dinner, but if their brunch is THIS phenomenal, I wouldn't expect anything less than outstanding. 5 stars. New favorite brunch spot - I'll be back.
(5)
Cara M.

It was great. Loved the atmosphere - good food. I'd go back for sure.
(4)
Uli J.

Loved LOKaL - a cozy restaurant / Lounge with European Flair, great food, lots of different Vodka and nice service.
(5)
Jay B.

I really wanted to like LoKal; it had everything going for it, cool space, rave reviews by Yelpers, my friends throw parties there all the time. We went there for dinner and my disappointment was boundless. Staff was overwhelmed, our waiter wanted to be anywhere else but there. Fiancee had the steak salad; there were 5 unhappy, desolate, cold morsels of steak next to some lettuce leaves. i had the fish, and when it came out i thought i was on Punk'D; a piece of cold Tilapia looking very much like the proverbial fish out of water. If one is supposed to eat with your eyes, i highly recommend blindfolds. we left Lokal and went in search for some decent dinner.
(1)
Kristin V.

Never again... - The menu was very limited. - The pierogi were not tasty and very small. We tried the lobster ($13 for 4 small) and the spinach ($9 for 4 small) and I have had better at a neighborhood fest. - The portions were beyond small. I get it, this isn't a chain with heaping portions, but these were like samples size at Costco. - They offer specials but if you have a Living Socal or Groupon they will not grant the special. So the 1/2 apps, were not 1/2 price at all and no one bothered to say that beforehand or even when the bill was presented. That is just wrong. - The service was poor on the phone, in person, and even when I asked about why I was charged full price for the specials.
(1)
Stephanie B.

My husband and I attended Lokal for brunch on our Anniversary. Both our meals were truly delicious and we also enjoyed the bottomless mimosas. The decor was very nice and inviting as well. We will be back!
(4)
Kim E.

I can't figure out why this place isn't more busy. We went on a Saturday night and there were plenty of open tables. Some of the food has a polish flair, but their menu is a little all over the place and aside from the perogis, I would otherwise pin as upscale American. We got the tuna tartare (served with waffle chips - genius!) and potato perogis to start. Both were very good and had good portions (we had a groupon so had a little extra cash to spend). I then opted for the steak sandwich - the beef was well cooked and thought the roasted red peppers were a great addition. The fries were a little overdone. The appear to operate on a skeleton staff, which I could see being a problem if the place got extremely busy.
(4)
Lucy P.

I decided to give LOKal 3 stars, only because I don't think I would go back. I will say, the food was delicious, our service was great. Unfortunately as a vegetarian, it leaves a little to be desired. We ordered the beet salad, spinach pierogi, and the zapiekanka. Everything we had was excellent, we cleaned the plates. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of selections for vegetarians. ( I think we ordered 3 of the 4 items we could). It left us a bit hungry...sort of like it held us over until dinner feeling. I think if we had been able to eat some of the meat containing items we would have left a bit more satisfied. Food was great, service was great....but because of the lack of vegetarian selection, I don't think I'll go back - but if you eat meat, you should probably go. I used to eat meat, and the tables near us had delicious smelling meat!
(3)
Trisha F.

3 of us went on our groupon that we purchased. We ordered one appetizer : potato Perogies, two steak entrees and the dessert of the day was ice cream. The service wasn't that great at all. The server/ bar tender told us we couldn't have a booth, so the three of us had to eat on a 2 person table and we also had reservations.. The appetizer was brought out with the meal ( I thought the point of an appetizer is to be before the meal as a snack while you wait). The lady said, oh yeh! They are brought together, but later said "oh sorry for the mix up". The guy told us we couldn't have half of one steak well done because they can't cut it in half. My mother asked why not an he was speechless without an answer. He hesitated and said "because the kitchen guy would kill me". The food portions were very small and we hardly got any potatoes with the steak dinner. I felt ripped off. I would never come again.
(1)
Risa P.

This place got a hell of a lot better once we were able to snag the only outside table and they closed the windows and we were somewhat away from the blasty blasty music! Ahhh, now we can have a nice night out and enjoy each others company. Also, I learned to dance ironically.
(2)
Ashley F.

I made a reservation for brunch because I had a large group of 10 people. We arrived on time and although we had about 7 people out of our group, the waitress refused to seat us until our whole party arrived because she thought we'd take advantage of the bottomless mimosas. The restaurant was completely empty at 10:30am so we awkwardly waited in the front. The whole interaction was very strange and I was embarrassed in front of my group. Once seated, the waitress after being asked what her favorite dish read the whole menu off (yes, this took about 10 awkward minutes). EMBARRASSING! The food was decent, but the mimosas were pure orange juice and the treatment from the waitstaff was terrible. Will not be going here again.
(1)
Mehran F.

my review is based on a simple lunch i had there. i wanted to try this place as it is on my way to cooks and fools or lilli's q.... and i had heard it was kinda polish. i got their steak sandwich...they were out of baguette and put it in a croissant. the meat was pretty low quality...the fries were soaked in oil...on a scale of zero to 10, maybe a 2 for the lunch. the service was nice. the server was a new champ there, pretty tall. nice, polite, good. the placed looked reasonably nice. it was dead at about half past noon or 12:45 when i arrived (on friday)....there was an old lady who was already about finishing her meal. again, i want to emphasize that my review is basically based on one sandwich in a single visit. so you may want to give them a chance. i won't go back.
(1)
Angela B.

Brunch + $7 bottomless Mimosas = YUM 10am on a Saturday.. there were only 2 other groups in the place. The servers were friendly and helpful -- and kept our glasses full!! :) The food was fast, hot, fresh and the portions were good. I had an omelette (which was nice & big) and my friend had the oatmeal.. no complaints!! My only "negative" about this place was the fact that they were so quick to bring our check. There were other food items we thought about trying.. but were not given the chance. (Apparently there's a rule that once you get your check, you are to move to the bar area and begin paying for Mimosas at a "discounted price.") All around pleasant experience, good food, nice place and left with a bit of a buzz. :)
(3)
Jen B.

See Roger W.'s review for a full rundown of my brunch experience. I would add the following: 1. We came in because LOKal did a Groupon. I can see why they needed on, since they have to be the only brunch place in Chicago not busy on a Sunday at 11 am. While it had the intended effect of bringing us to the restaurant, the crappy service is prompting bad reviews which will only exacerbate its problems. Get your act together, already. And by that I mean, fire your manager and bring in someone who will better train the staff and fix the delays with food and drink. 2. The food is not terrible. At least, most of it was not. I think this place can be salvaged, if said act was gotten together. Especially with the bottomless mimosa/bloody deal. 3. I'm willing to throw them a bone and say that our experience may have been an anomaly, given the generally positive reviews. So I won't tell you to never come here, just be wary that your meal may take forever and make sure to double check your bill.
(1)
Samantha L.

I can see why LOKal's overall rating has declined in the past year. I'm not sure if they changed owners or cooks, but it seems the food has changed. First off, I LOVED the Polish sausage the first time I went about 8 months ago, because it was a little spicy and extremely flavorful. When I went last weekend, it tasted like a Polish sausage I could buy at any grocery store. Second, the entrees were just okay... nothing to write home about. I'm glad I had a Groupon and didn't pay full price. I got the pork loin and potato dumplings, and the dumplings were not very good, and there was a sauce that did not favor the pork. Basically, I vote this place is a-ok if you have a Groupon or Yelp Eats is going on, but it's just not worth the full-price money.
(3)
April M.

the Tuna Burger was amazing!! Nice hip atmosphere, good service, average prices.
(5)
Jessica K.

YUM YUM YUM! Last Saturday was my brother's first time visiting Wicker Park, and he treated me to brunch. I saw Lokal's range of mediocre to great reviews and wanted to try some place else but my brother thought the menu sounded fine. Best decision evar, lokal's food is GREAT! It was a beautiful day so sidewalk dining was available but we opted for a high top table inside. I ordered the $8 Lokal sandwich, which comes in two separate sandwiches with a fried egg, oven roasted tomatoes, arugula, slightly spicy smoked polish and sesame aioli on a lightly toasted baguette style bread. The egg had the perfect amount of runny yolk, although if you prefer your eggs more or less cooked, let your waitress know ahead of time. She didn't ask me. The arugula was fresh and the sausage had a nice kick to it and was grease-free. What a delicious and non-heavy sandwich - love at first bite! If I hadn't drank 1/2 of my bottomless bloody mary, I would have been able to eat both sandwiches but the bottomless bloody mary, which is $9, comes in one of the biggest glasses. The reason they call it "bottomless" is because it's extremely difficult to finish, not because you can get refills. The bloody mary was pretty good, slightly spicy with great flavor. It wasn't too thick or too watered down and had a strong amount of vodka to where I felt buzzed after downing 1/3 of it. My brother ordered the $12 mouth-watering Wagyu burger which comes on a brioche bun with pickle aioli sauce (DELISH), arugula, tomato, red onion and a side of perfectly seasoned, thin and crispy house cut fries. The burger was tender and very well seasoned but the aioli sauce was amazing. I dipped my lokal sandwich in the drizzles on the plate - yum! Our waitress was decent; she must have been annoyed that I took 15 minutes to decide on my dish, because she didn't ask us how we were doing. Regardless, my overall experience was great. I definitely recommend the food! 5 stars for food, 3 stars for the service.
(4)
Jon A.

The service was rude, like we were bothering the staff. The schnitzel was very thick and tasted like a smoked ham steak. Be careful if you go there for a special or discount. They price their wine and cocktails differently if you try to use a discount.
(1)
Marta C.

I am giving Lokal 4 out of 5 because I went only once last night for dinner. Why 4- the music- very good mix in the beginning and then change of the bartender and boom, louder and less appealing. But lets focus on the 5 star service , food and ambiance. Went there for dinner with my love and had the best Polish Kielbasa ( with a twist), also fantastic Pierogi and Zapiekanka -yum. It was a posh Polish feast :) . Our waitress was so kind and nice - we have grupon and we never got one of those pity looks : omg the online deals people again ...- like you may get at some places :) I love the art and how cozy this place is. And if you are Nutella addict do yourself a favor and get the Nutella whip twist - simply out of this world :) I am looking forward to go there for weekend branch.
(4)
Alysson L.

Damn, I wish I'd read the comment of the previous reviewer who noted that the scallop entree comes with only two scallops-- I ordered it, and was thoroughly disappointed. I also want to note that the house cocktails are kinda lame-- they're all super sugary, sweet, soda concoctions that seem like the sort of thing 19-year-old sorority girls would order. Service was slow (though super friendly.) I like the atmosphere, but the food actually isn't special enough to merit the high prices, and the portions are pretty tiny. I will not be going back.
(2)
Kim A.

The one star is deserved... as the concept of bottomless Mimosa is pretty cool. BUT Let's talk about staff returning correspondence. They closed their kitchen the week prior to when a Groupon was going to expire. There was a little sign on the door explaining the situation, who to call, and how they'd be handling the snafu. (pictured) Mind you, this is the week before Thanksgiving, some people have plans for the holiday. I followed the directions, I even CC'ed Groupon. I heard from the folks at Groupon right away... nothing from Lokal... then I called... left a message with someone to have a manager, no one called me back. When your food is one notch above average, you HAVE to rely on customer service to keep people coming back. But, you didn't. I really have no intention of ever coming here again. With a stellar location such as yours a stone's throw away from Six Corners, you REALLY need to bring your A game. And yes, I KNOW I can use the Groupon for face value, but I've really been left with a bad taste in my mouth from this place. By all accounts, brunch is their strong point, and yes, I thought it was decent too, but no better than you'd get down Damen at Feast. I really was looking forward to trying their dinner.
(1)
Amanda Z.

Alright, LOKal, I'm rounding up cuz I feel like you may have read my brunching beauties' reviews and KNOW how to treat some ladies looking for the lush life on a beautiful Sunday. The decor is understated and chic (I need to move into an apartment with exposed brick, I've decided) and despite it's long, narrow situation, the light stays pretty good. Good ambiance. In fact, I'd recommend for an understated first or second date. Lovely, but doesn't try too hard. The menu is small-ish, but full of goodies. I went with the omelet packed with creamy goat cheese, watercress and portabella which satisfied every inch of my aching-for-eggs bod. YUM. Coffee was delish (real cream, heeeyyyoooo) and the mimosas were alternately tasty and a bit weak. Oh, did I mention $7 for unlimited mimosas? Yes. Now, let's discuss. My brunch bunch and I enjoy our bottomless mimosas pretty fervently and will critique the hell out of your service on this issue, and this issue alone. Keep the champs flowing and we are happy as can be. If there is a lag, we're sure to notice. Word to the wise, LOKal, get that bit together and you're very likely to see us back again. (We even tried in a less than subtle manner to request a pitcher, you know, to save our overwhelmed cutie-waiter the trouble. Unfortunately, they were outta pitchers, sad for us.) Service was slightly spotty (likely due to a slightly overwhelmed and clueless server), but my delightful eggs made me very happy. In sum, to make this better: FREQUENT refills on all things liquid. Coffee. Mimosas. Water. This will make all the difference in the world. I will be back to give 'em another shot, likely with my own pitcher. Just kidding. Or am I? You never can tell with me.
(4)
Nayha I.

Bottomless mimosas! So much fun!
(4)
Erin B.

What a lovely little spot. A few weeks ago a friend and I met up on a Saturday for a late brunch and chose this spot for it's bottomless mimosas. We both ordered a the LoKaL Sandwich, and who knew that an egg sandwich could taste so much like a slice of heaven? I DEVOURED that sandwich and loved every bite. The bottomless mimosas ($7!!) were lovely. Not terribly strong, but when they're bottomless, it's kind of expected. After our 4th glass, our server seemed almost offended when we turned having another! It was so nice to enjoy a brunch where we didn't feel like we were being rushed out. I would definitely go again.
(4)
Teresa K.

Went to Brunch here on a sunday and had a great time. The 5 of us go the bottomless mimosas and someone told us we had to have food on the table to get the refills. Well we got two refills before our food was out and many more after that. We were never cut off which was surprising, even after they had cleared our plates we got more refills. I don't drink mimosas more than once or twice a year but i had enough to make paying $7 worth it. Food was great, i had the biscuits and gravy and it came with two kinds of delicious sausage, two large biscuits and some spicy potatoes. Someone else ordered the Nutella fries to share and it was giant and good, reminded me of funnel cakes.
(4)
jenise r.

I have to admit I came here because of the $7 bottomless mimosas. I am a sucker. Very cute spot, good reggae playing the entire time and it wasn't crowded. We both got the eggs and chimicurri dish; one with meat and one with chicken. The meats were bland, a little seasoning can go a long way. The chimicurri reminded me more of a pesto than chimicurri. Both dishes came with potatos and tomatos, and the potatos were cooked perfect. I'd go back again but mostly for the mimosas.
(3)
Christina G.

This is a trendy-looking place. Music was loud and clubby but they turned it down after a while. It wasn't crowded on a Sunday for brunch the other day which was surprising. Maybe because it was the first nice day and so many other places have outdoor seating and this place doesn't? Had the salmon bagel, it was ok. My friend really like the duck confit. The coffee was good but they don't serve decaf which is unusual. I guess if I was hung-over and needed the bottomless bloody mary I would have maybe appreciated the place more.
(2)
Robin W.

Bottomless mimosa and bloody marys?! SOLD. They also don't skimp on the refills. I was trying not to get too drunk when I went for brunch, but my glass just kept getting refilled. I didn't even have time to say 'no, stop I don't want another delicious mimosa poured into my glass because I might become inebriated and have a really awesome day...' Nope, nothing could stop the mimosa flow. Food was very fresh. European minimalist/modern chic feel. Also a good crowd on the weekends for a drink.
(5)
Sabrina D.

Came with a party of six women with disparate tastes in food and alcohol. Found incredible dishes and drinks for everyone. Because of the amazing service and spot on recommendations, everyone managed to try something new - and love it! We woke up talking about the food the next day - particularly the pork tenderloin with bacon maple potatoes, the goat cheese risotto and the butternut squash pierogies. Loved the Ginsky and Imbir. I'm a gin and wine woman, but left with a new appreciation for vodka. Looking forward to trying other creative cocktails.
(5)
Maria A.

This is my favorite neighborhood spot. Best deal around is on Fridays - mussels and truffle fries for $10. Only wish they would mince the garlic in the broth because sometimes you get a thick slice of it... but that's mostly because I'm lapping it up with the awesome crusty bread they give you so oh well. Great for brunch too.
(5)
Ashley G.

I came here a few weeks ago for brunch with a girlfriend and although the menu looked great, the service was hardly anything to brag about. After an uncomfortable interaction concerning our "bottomless" $7 mimosas we decided to take off. We tipped our waitress (who was really sweet by the way) and left - no hard feelings. Now this is where the problem started... We wrote a review on Yelp. Nothing too harsh, just explaining that we didn't have the greatest service and were a little disappointed to hear that the $7 "bottomless" mimosas are only bottomless while you have food on your table (aka drink fast eat very VERY slow!). Following her review the owner, "Artur W," as you'll see on several other review responses, commented with a completely unprofessional and unnecessary attitude saying "DAMMIT! Get the hell out!" I'd advise anyone to take a look at the foul, immature comments the owner is sending to customers on here before even stepping foot in this place. Lokal won't ever see my money again, that's for sure! Three cheers for other brunch places like Bite Cafe and Division Ale House that have WONDERFUL customer service, food, and a friendly atmosphere!
(1)
Mark C.

Lokal is such a treasure in the wicker park area. Daily specials and amazing food keep this spot busy. And Saturdays they have a dinner for two special! Sweet Valentine's Day deal if you ask me! Somehow I missed the memo to order the strip steak. Everyone else got it and it's huge. But my seafood pasta was quite delicious. The truffle fries need a bit of work, no flavor unless you add the dipping sauce. I would've hoped for better drinks, but the beer selection is pretty good. So now to find out about the other specials !
(4)
Kay S.

My server only gave me and my friends 3 pitchers of "unlimited mimosas" and said "I can only top you guys off, we have the table reserved." (As in fill up our next glass half way up.) I thought it was UNLIMITED, as in I can drink more than 3 glass fulls of mimosas with 3 of my friends....bogus service, bogus server. I will never come here again. Unlimited means unlimited. My tuna burger was good though even though a bug flew on it.
(1)
Shane E.

I made a trip to Lokal a few weeks ago on a Wednesday night, and the experience was solid overall. It was relatively busy, but we were seated right away. The server was helpful and attentive. I had the NY Strip steak, and it was decent - nothing special. However, I also tried the risotto which was incredible - super rich. Nothing about the place stood out in particular. However, you get a pretty good bang for your buck here.
(3)
Brenda J.

Unfortunately this was a one star review today. I would have given them at least a 2-4 stars today but after speaking to his manager today..This establishment will get 0 stars. My table of 2 had a bottomless mimosa pitcher at 2:56 only to have it removed right before 3. When I asked the waitress why, she said it was because we no longer had a dish in front of us. Cool, I will be sure to tell my friends to not frequent your establishment, ever. I have been successful with at least 4 friends thus far, not including the table beside me today, when they witnessed your rude comments. Thank you Lokal.
(1)
Olivia E.

Food is good considering I didn't walk in initially expecting much and great all you can drink brunch. Big downside is they accept reservations but don't really adhere to having a table ready for you.
(2)
Yalile R.

We had a nice server and the food was good. It was really loud with no music that I could hear just noise, there was a huge backup of people waiting for reservations with no encouragement to grab a drink. It was ok, rather try other places in Chicago than coming back here.
(3)
Alex H.

Just a tad bit of sass from the waitress, but they carry 78 red so I give this Wicker park staple five stars.
(5)
Mihir P.

I came back last night since I was in the area and had a deal. This experience was much much better. Service was friendly and very knowledgeable. Food has improved greatly. I suggest the mussels, truffle fries, and NY steak. Even without the deal, the prices are very affordable.
(4)
Jessica S.

$9 unlimited mimosas... can't beat that! Great for a large group brunch.
(4)
Mindy Y.

Mindy's Opinions and Tips: (1) Get here when you're not starving at all! Wait time is pretty intense... could go up to an hour especially during rush hours! (2) Be careful of the candles! My homeboy got waxed all over himself in the bathroom. I guess the staff decided to put a candle on top of the drier... bad idea if you're drying your hands... burnt my poor friend.. pat pat.. there.. there. (3) I got the steak and eggs.. super, super amazing! I really, really like it! Steak made perfectly and amazing.. the potatoes ... gosh! noms! Highly recommended to try! (4) Potato pancakes are delish... it's like hash browns! Went well with the sauces! 5 stars! (5) Bottomless Sangria ... yes yes yesh! $7 per person! Perfect! (6) Pork Belly ... delish 4 stars! **OVERALL: delish-ie time! potato pancakes and the steak and eggs are my favorite .. and don't forget the bottomless alcohol! 4.5 stars overall!
(4)
Lauren D.

Granted, we likely shouldn't have come during World Cup fever. But I wish the management would have stepped up and asked the raging alcoholics at the bar to keep it down. I'm fine with people using a bar for what it's there for. But trying to have a conversation over people yelling obscenities at the TV is not my idea of a good dining experience. The food was fine. Some Polish influences for sure, such as the butternut squash pierogi. They were fried to a nice crunch and the filling inside was smooth and tasty. I ordered the Juicy Lucy burger and it was a basic burger. Nothing to write home about. It claims to have sausage in it but you don't really feel that flavor in there. My husband chose the Pan-roasted Chicken Breast, and while it was good, there just wasn't much food on the plate, which will never make us happy. Another downside: sides are a la carte which always seems unnecessary. Overall, Lokal is fine but not somewhere I will want to go back.
(2)
Stephanie W.

We used Groupon Reserve and found this spot in Wicker Park for dinner. We had the cheese and pickles, mushroom pasta and the mushrooms and kale (YUM - Our Fave!). They had a nice red wine selection and the waiter recommended a great glass for me. We wound certainly head back, and want to try cocktails and brunch.
(3)
Desiree R.

Been here mostly on Saturday nights, I've had an ok night. Music could be better, food is so so, but the drinks are reasonable and super strong.
(3)
Lauren W.

I was with a party of 4 and we were very excited to try Lokal and had heard great things. We made a reservation for Sunday brunch and the only time available was 1:45, but we figured it would still be worth it. So, when we arrived for our late brunch at 1:45 and checked in with the host, our reservation was completely negated and our name was placed at the bottom of a very log list. We waited for about 15 minutes and were still at the bottom of the list. We then made the choice to leave and go eat anywhere we could get in, as we were very hungry. We were very disappointed in the fact that our reservation meant absolutely nothing and we has planned our day around it and ultimately were not able to eat there at all.
(1)
Marissa P.

Went for brunch today with 3 girlfriends. It was busy and loud which is completely expected on Sunday at noon. Unfortunately the bottomless mimosas is more like orange juice with a splash of champagne and I had to send back the coffee it was so horrible. I literally thought they have me coffee residue accidentally. The food was okay, pretty much middle of the road. Best part was the salad greens and dressing which was delicious! I wouldn't go back for brunch may try dinner but I wouldn't feel like I am missing anything.
(2)
Mia P.

Had a great time, great food and our server Will was gracious, kind and very good! He deserves a raise:)
(4)
Delightful D.

Good time here this past saturday. Good hip hop music nice mix some old school some new school. Nice crowd not too packed. Nice place to go to if you want the club like atmosphere without the club like drama. No cover, no dress code and no drama. I loved it. Will return.
(3)
Sara L.

I always hear people talking bout this place and my friend had a groupon...so why not try it! The place is a lot smaller than I was expecting. The service was good and the food was good as well. Some items can be a little pricey, but the quality is there. I do think my fav part of my meal was actually my drink..what can I say a great cocktail always makes me happy! It was some kind of caramel flavored vodka with pineapple i believe...either way it tasted like a pineapple upside down cake! Perhaps brunch is better there, but dinner was okay.
(3)
Jennifer B.

Unfortunately, during what I thought was going to be a lovely brunch at Lokal I heard the words, "I'm sorry, we can't do any substitutions at all." Why no substitutions? If it's what I want, and it's on your menu, I really can't have a fruit cup instead of the potatoes? Even if I'm willing to pay more? You are going to make me have potatoes on my plate when I've asked not to have them? It's unfortunate, because the brunch menu is really great and the prices aren't terrible. The service is good and the atmosphere is cool. This was all overshadowed by "no substitutions!" I mean, this isn't Golden Nugget....is it? Maybe if I would have had the bottomless mimosas I wouldn't have been stressin'?
(3)
Steve D.

Didn't explore to much of the menu great selection of vodka, defiantly a great Vodka Bar loved the oak infused, half price apts on Tuesday awesome!
(4)
Cristie F.

I'm confused by the name. LOKaL? Does that mean the dishes are made with local ingredients? The dishes are low cal? Or is it that LOKaL is local to Chicago?? I have no clue. Either way, LOKaL was an unexpected, and quite the fantastic treat! Everything about our experience was solid....food. atmosphere. service. The food itself was incredible. The menu offers a variety of Polish inspired dishes, with fair prices and generous portions. The potato pierogi had the perfect amount of crispiness. The pork belly had amazing flavor. The duck leg confit with the parsnip puree and the fall-off-the-bone kraut ribs were hands down the favorites of the night. The meat was sooo juicy, tender, and packed full of flavor. There were a couple disappointments though. The pasta dish appeared to have boxed pasta. Although I have no complaints on the dish ((I loved the mix of flavors)) I had hoped for homemade pasta. The chicken wings were also fairly bland, unless doused with the side of hot sauce. Boo. The gamut of dishes ordered... //Potato Pierogi with bacon, onions, and scallion cream //Farm Smoked Kielbasa with dill potato salad & marinated beets //Grilled Chicken Wings //Berkshire Pork Belly with braised lentils, pickled celery, and apple cider gastrique glaze //Pasta - spaghettini, roasted shitake mushrooms, tomatoes, garlic chips, herb olive oil, arugula, capers, pine nuts //Schnitzel with french fries and cole slaw //Duck Leg Confit with parsnip puree, apple-star anise compote, watercress salad //Summer Kraut Ribs with brown butter-dill potatoes Important to note, the drinks are incredibly strong. Over the top, almost can't drink strong. Considered yourself warned and go easy - or make sure you have a DD or a taxi on hand if you're driving. Service was incredible. Our server was a wealth of knowledge on the menu and made some great recommendations. We got a round of clover flavored vodka shots on the house, and when 2 of us showed our Yelp check-in for a free zubrowka shot, the server came back with 4! Awesomeness. Needless to say, we were more than taken care of and didn't lack for anything. For a Saturday night, LOKaL wasn't very busy ((which I thought was odd)). So if you find the other restaurants on North Ave. are booked solid, LOKaL would be an excellent choice with little to no wait. Not to mention, the dim lighting, local art, and sleek decor make for a super sexy date night. Solid 4 stars in my book.
(4)
Ira L.

I never review a place unless it's actually amazing or really terrible. This place is hands down the BEST champagne brunch deal in Chicago! Apprehensive posting this because I don't want too many people knowing, but this place is too good not to share. $7 bottomless mimosas on Saturday or Sunday, they bring cranberry juice and other mixers free of charge. The atmosphere is so laid back and the staff is insanely friendly. Will be coming here again and again! Thank you Lokal!
(5)
Moni K.

I really appreciate Lokal's take on Polish cuisine. I think that it is extremely difficult to to make Polish food modern and Lokal does great job updating the menu and making the food hot and trendy. The Zapi is delicious, I had many in Poland and it is a staple in Zakopane. Also the vodka flights are a really great idea. Just a little to try...I like the plum and honey flavored vodka that my grandma drinks and they have it here.
(5)
Emily Z.

Sadly Lokal is not Locally sourced, tear, but thankfully my entree was delicious enough to make up for the mediocre appetizer and dessert. No lines here during the week. Restaurant was only half full but still seemed kind of deserted. Calamari appetizer was plentiful but I would have liked the roasted tomato sauce accompaniment to be a little more flavorful. Dessert was brownie ala mode which honestly can never be bad but this one was nothing impressive. You're probably wonder where the 3 starts comes in at this point, well our entrees were delicious and full of complementing flavors. Fish of the day was something I had never heard of that started with a C... no, not Cod. It was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy crust. Set on top of a lemon and blue cheese risotto and offset by peppery arugula and tart cranberries. Not a huge menu and not not cheap but great quality and flavor!
(3)
Maury V.

While planning brunch with a couple of girlfriends, someone suggested Lokal. On the day of, I yelped this place and kinda wanted to go elsewhere, I wasn't convinced with the pictures. Boy was I wrong! Bottomless mimosas for $7 and some diverse snd very delicious dishes. We arrived at 11am on a Sunday which appeared to be right before the crowds came in. I had the Lokal sandwich which had sausage that tasted like Latin American salchicha (brownie pts) and we shared the Nutella frites...so so good! Although they were crazy busy, the service was excellent and we had a full garaffe of water and mimosa on our table the entire time. If its a nice day outside, the neighborhood is a great area to walk around in as well. I will definitely be back to Lokal !
(4)
Justin B.

My wife, who is even willing to give bad Katherine Heigl flicks the benefit of the doubt, thought that Lokal was pretty bad. Her exact words: "Nothing there was any good." I had better things to say, and to go against everything we read on Yelp: the service was great, the decor was good, the music was fine, and the food was delivered fast, so my two stars are based mainly on my non-food experience (7 PM on a warm Wednesday). But even I have to admit, the food was subpar. After coming from the free pie event in Wicker Park before dinner, we used our Groupon to get the pork belly app, the steak salad and the fish of the day (since we already had pie, we did Lokal a solid by not requesting the free dessert). The pork belly was strangely terrible; I would admit that I was possibly spoiled by all of the amazing pork we had at Baconfest last month, but still, it's hard to make pork belly taste plain. Even my wife thought the kale was better than the pork belly it was served with, which may never happen again. The trout was not as strong as we were hoping for, and it was literally bathing in a side sauce that wasn't the best...the asparagus served with the fish was pretty bad. It came with a risotto that can best be described as plain. It added some heft to the fish but not enough to recommend. The salad was also bathed in an oil/vinaigrette dressing but the actual greens were tasty...the steak was a little overcooked (we asked for medium rare, it came out medium) but to Lokal's credit, they give you a ton of steak on top of this bad boy. Just wish it tasted better. Unfortunately, I bought two of these Groupons before going once, so we'll be back again before the summer is out. We'll try three different plates the next time around and hope for the best. I may not be able to trick my wife into going back with me though!
(2)
Ian L.

First off, let us split the ratings. Food was very good 4 stars for quality 4.7 stars value. 1 star dessert of the day SUCKED, tasteless. If there was an award for mediocrity, it would be a frontrunner. We got two as our Google Voucher included it. Where do I begin on the service? So we went on a double date, and since my partner and I only had one voucher, we asked the waiter to split our table. He rudely kept "convincing" us that $5 wine was a better offer and the other party fell for that, and I insisted twice to keep the tables separate so we could use our voucher properly. He said not to worry about it. Throughout the service, which was really slow (45 min for appetizer, come on, and it wasn't even packed) and at times frankly inattentive and the other 3 of my party were completely disgusted by his inattention and sheer condescension. He was VERY condescending, saying things like "money isn't everything you know"... WELL I BOUGHT THE VOUCHER THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Not only did he not split our table as requested, he basically only gave us $50 of our $71 worth of google voucher. And I paid $30 for that voucher. We were so cheesed that our other couple suggested not tipping, but I felt "pity" and gave 10 cents. Not saying I won't be back (because the food is good value), but seriously the service wrecked it.
(2)
Gina S.

We were greeted and told to wait, because the whole party must be present before they would seat us. Things started to pick-up and tables were filling up quicker around 11 am (on a Saturday). There were a few encounters between our party and the hostess and our server once we were seated that were a little terse; like a question someone asked was quickly cut off or interrupted. It was universally interpreted by our group as rude and felt like a verbal hand slap. Service aside, we came here to get our drank on. Our table went with the bottomless mimosa for $7. They are bottomless until the food arrives and then we were all topped off and given our last carafe (which was really a half carafe). I ordered a French omelet with 2 toppings of my choosing, it would be an additional $1 for anything beyond 2. They had lots of less-common toppings to choose from too; lox, kale, leeks, cream cheese, just to name a few. The food service was pretty slow but our glasses were always kept full. By the time we started wondering if our food was on it's way out (about 20 minutes), we were three sheets to the wind and could care less when it arrived. My omelet was good but the bottomless mimosa brunch is what'll bring me back.
(4)
Amanda G.

It's upscale Polish bar food, and it's delicious. The service is pretty good, maybe some minor hiccups in the 3 times we have gone, but they have always been decently nice and responsive. The ambiance is kind of funky-casual, and there is a late night scene here as well. My only gripe is that the beer selection leaves something to be desired. They only have a few beers on draft and not many bottles either. They do have an outstanding selection of vodka though. The prices are pretty fair also. We will continue to go back I am sure.
(4)
Robert B.

A great breakfast spot for the weekend. I love the Polish heritage that they have. It reminds me of the way that my mom used to cook. All of the food me appear simple but when it comes out it is I will get an old taste. My girlfriend loves the bottomless mimosas which is a definite plus. Make sure that you expect a little bit of a wait as the restaurant isn't real big. If it looks busy one of the tricks is definitely to sit at the bar.
(5)
Valerie W.

Lokal is the type of place I could (and have) definitely driven past dozens of times without even noticing it was there. In fact, while looking for parking, I was trying to squeeze into a parking spot right in front not even realizing it, and thinking I'd still have to walk a block or two! The best way for me to describe Lokal is big restaurant feel in a small space. The tables numbered less than 10, with maybe 7-8 more seats at the bar. We were greeted by (presumably) the owner and given a rundown of the bar/cocktail menu while we waited for the rest of our party. He talked to us like we were old chums, which I found odd but fun at the same time. Upon checking in, there was an offer for a free shot of vodka (one of their specialties.) When I presented it to the bartender/maybe owner, he ordered us up two honey and clove flavored Polish vodka shots, on the house. I generally don't drink straight shots, but this was really good! I ended up with the Crimson Basil cocktail, a vodka-cranberry juice-basil concoction that I found to be absolutely delicious, but, I admittedly have a thing for basil. Our entire dining experience at Lokal was very leisurely, perhaps attributed to the European ownership? We were seated and ordered according to the Groupon I had purchased: 2 appetizers, 4 entrees, and 2 desserts. On the table: Steak Tartare: grass-fed angus, quail egg, grilled rye, truffle. Berkshire Pork Belly: wilted kale, pickled celery, apple cider gastrique glaze Mains: Scallop-Mushroom pasta: spaghettini, forest mushrooms, American grana, cherry tomato, mushroom broth Fish of the Day (was trout): lemon risotto, grilled asparagus, tomato jam Seared Duck Breast: parsnip puree, apple-star anise compote, French bean salad Prairie Pork Tenderloin: potato pancake, apple-radish salad, mushroom cream. For me, the appetizers stole the show, but maybe I ordered the wrong main (I had the pork tenderloin.) Everyone else raved about their dishes, but for me, the pork was a little over-cooked and the potato pancake was a bit gummy. Both the pork belly and steak tartare were fantastic (my first tartare experience.) The BF let me taste his lemon risotto and I was immediately disappointed that I didn't order it myself. The dessert wasn't memorable, mainly because they only had one, and it had bananas in it, which I can't eat. The daily specials at Lokal and the rest of the appetizers I didn't get to try (as well as the brunch menu) are enough to bring me back for another shot.
(4)
Lily Z.

Boy and I came for brunch this past Sunday. While we enjoyed the mussels, I could NOT stand the people sitting next to us. I know you hate social media and how it has negatively impacted today's society, but could you lower your voice so I can hear my own thoughts?! Sweet Jesus. The only time the table was quiet when they stopped to check their Instagram and Facebook feed at the table. Oh, the irony. Anyways, like I said, we enjoyed the mussels. He ordered a lox bagel and I ordered the ahi tuna burger. I kind of liked the burger? The tuna wasn't bad, but is it supposed to come in strips? His bagel was overloaded with so many items. Although they have bottomless mimosas, we didn't order that. We just ordered a glass of orange juice and to be quite honest, it tasted like there was alcohol in it. Not quite a mimosa, not quite orange juice. It was strange. I liked this place, but didn't quite like it. Service was bumpy. We just stood there for 10 minutes waiting for someone to acknowledge/seat us. Mussels were good at least?
(3)
Cami P.

Deeeeelicious!!! We had Sunday brunch at Lokal, and by far, it was one of the tastiest brunch spots I have been to for a long while. I kept telling my friend, "How does this taste so good???" The menu is kept simple, with no fancy descriptors. The food, however, was beyond expectations. We came here with a group of 12, and no one had any complaints, only compliments. I would have given Lokal 5 stars except they were very difficult to get a hold of. The phone number listed on their website and on Yelp would ring, but no one would pick up and there is no way to leave a message. After 2-3 days of calling, I finally emailed to try to reserve our large group table. They responded within 24 hours, though I was getting antsy by then. The place is super busy, and the service was OK. Servers were nice, but because Lokal was so busy (because the food is so awesome!) we really had to work hard to get our waiter's attention. Bottom line: if you want good food and don't mind the wait and busy servers, you should come to Lokal!
(4)
Heena P.

Popped in here for a Saturday glass of wine. Ordered the mussels in a beer broth and truffle fries. I am a mussel snob.. These was delicious! The perfect amount of garlic. I kept ordering bread to sop up the broth. The mussels were very fresh. All and all surprising delight.
(4)
Kathy T.

This place has great service! We got seated right away; the service was phenomenal. The food did not take long to come out either. I went on a Sunday around noon, it wasn't as busy as I thought it would be. Pork belly was amazing!
(5)
Nick L.

The reason I give this 2 stars is because the food is actually pretty damn good. Shame the rest really lets it down. Service, well, that took a while to order drinks and an app. Then it took ages to order entrÃ©es. And then I had my entree and my wife waited a further 15 mins for hers. When it arrived mine was cold and hers was undercooked so had to go back. But, the server didn't even ask how a steak and a burger were to be cooked. Error! So, burger went back. When it came, I was finished. My cold steak and sides were gone. Tasted great, but so does a lot of food in Chicago. Go elsewhere. It will be way better! Shame.
(2)
Jessica F.

Meh. The servers were nice but the atmosphere is horrible. If you like loud shitty pop music and people having to yell over top of it to have conversations this is your place. Food wasn't bad but there are better places in town for your money.
(3)
Isabel S.

I'm giving LoKal an A-OK rating because it was just that...A-OK. Was very busy when we arrived on New Years day. The reservation was there and we sat immediately. I ordered the bottomless Bloody Marys for just $9. Definitely worth it, however I'm not sure how much liquor was actually in it. Server was decent, she disappeared at times but we got food fast. I ordered the Cheesy Leeks/Bacon scramble...huge portion and also did a side of toast. $2 for a side of toast wasn't that worth it but whatever. The sausage I tried was AMAZING. My food was great but definitely overall experience was a 3-star. Hope this helps!
(3)
Christopher M.

If you're in the area it's a perfectly good place for a meal. Is there anything out of this world going on? Nah, nothing to blow your mind. But it's a good meal at a good price. The steak tartare was great, though small. The pork belly was very good and recommended.
(4)
Mark D.

Overall, we had a really good Sunday brunch experience here. I ordered the mushroom spinach benedict and it was very tasty. We also had some of the truffle fries which were extremely addicting. Of course, we had to go with the bottomless mimosas. They were actually better and stronger than what I was expecting. You get unlimited mimosas in some places and you feel like you're drinking lots of orange juice with a slight hint of champagne. Not here- from the first sip we could tell they were made very well. They were also pretty good about bringing us some new pitchers to refill ourselves. For the most part, the waitress was nice and attentive and even changed the closest TV to the game we wanted to watch. We did feel a little rushed at the end though; looking at some of the other reviews, they may want to instruct their servers to ease off a little at the end and not hurry people out. For that I have to drop them a star, but still will definitely be back.
(4)
Jessica M.

LoKal has a very slick, modern feel to its ambiance. The ceiling lights dim out in the evening but disco-type lights are lit beneath the booth tables. It wouldn't be in your best interest to stare at them. To further compliment the disco theme, black vinyl records were strung and hung along the walls. I guess it somehow brings out the European culture when you associate them with the Beatles and hum "Yellow Submarine"..... Four of us arrived on a Thursday evening and we were promptly seated without a wait. We ordered grilled pork belly, pork shank on the bone, duck leg confit, LoKal burger, steak baguette, and two orders of the daily dessert. The pork belly arrived in two soft, tender pieces complimented with pilaf rice. It left me craving for more pork belly. The burger and baguette were very generous in portions and typical. The duck leg confit was slightly seared on the skin and it absorbed the sweet apple sauce. The dish was pleasantly complemented with some lightly salted and oiled greens to the side. The pork shank was sautÃ©ed with mushrooms and served atop potato pancakes. The potatoes melted with every bite! Despite the pleasing results of the appetizer and entrees, I'm tempted to give LoKal 3.5 stars. The daily dessert came in two petite wine glasses filled with tiny bits of strawberry and nutella along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and wafer roll. It was very disappointing and unworthy of the $6 charged. The waiter was very friendly but slow and forgetful at times. Our dinner could've been 1.5 hours but it stretched out to nearly three hours. Had this been a nine-course meal, I would've happily accepted that. BUT I would like to give LoKal the benefit of the doubt because it was the night the Bulls lost to the Sixers at the first round of the 2012 playoffs. It was a sad evening for all of us Chicagoans and let's not add salt to the wound.
(4)
Josh G.

Superb service, atmosphere and decor. Eric and Devin are on point! Eric keep wearing those tight shirts! meOW! Try the whiskey.
(5)
Honest T.

I give them only 3 stars because of the manager working brunch on 11/3. Her attitude was distasteful. If I hadn't been with a group I would've left. When speaking with customers every employee should always show professionalism and class. I don't think those words are in her vocabulary. The saving grace was our waitress Christine. She was amazing,attentive, and informative. Her recommendations were spot on,girl knew her stuff. Thank you Christine,you saved us from a horrible experience.
(3)
Michael B.

Wow our server was rough. First, we sat down and he wouldn't let us order our appetizers or drinks till our 4th showed up while he was parking the car. Ok. So we awkwardly sit there for 5 minutes until we were a full group. And then we order bottomless mimosas and 4 entrees and 4 coffees and settle in. First complaint - water glasses had gross stuff caked on the bottom. No apology. Second complaint - server spilled cream all over the table. No apology. He even only cleaned up about half of it. Who cares though... it happens. The real problems started when they brought out 5 entrees and the server tried to blame us somehow. So after that interaction we ate and the food was awesome but they were trying to clear our plate a lot. I think he was worried about a rush and was hovering. Finally he cleared plates.. with food remaining.. and then informed us that rules were rules and he had to have us clear the table and couldn't let us have any more mimosas. When we asked why he just started clearing glasses and kept sayign well dont tip me then I can see if there was a line but there was seriously about 10 tables open with no one waiting. We had 4 glasses at this point. All in all.. 180 bucks for a decent breakfast and to be spilled on and talked down to and kicked out the second we were done... not worth it. Not coming back. Server was the skinny black dude that worked today btw. I would avoid him like the plague.. I saw a few tables that were with other servers that looked to be enjoying a long brunch. We are all current or former servers and were so confused by his service. We thought we were on some hidden camera show. Terrible. Won't be back again.
(1)
Danielle F.

This is my favorite brunch spot in the city. The food is amazing and the bottomless mimosas and bloodys make it even better!
(5)
Natalia K.

I grabbed the groupon dinner for two meal and was excited that the menu featured some Polish items because I grew up with a lot of Polish food (I am Ukrainian from Poland). I am a beer gal, so I went with the Zywiec, but my friend was delighted with the cocktail menu. As our starter, I initially wanted to try the pierogi, but I usually always like my own homemade dumplings so rather than be disappointed with another mediocre restaurant version, we went with the kielbasa. It was quite good, especially with the mustard. Then I had the short-rib and it was quite good- very tender and easy to eat off the bone. The sides were good as well. Our server/bartender was catering to the whole restaurant, so service was a bit slow, but the atmosphere was pleasant and I liked the clean, modern feel to the place, so we weren't grumpy about it. I am not rushing to go back, but there were a few other things on the menu I wouldn't mind trying so if someone else suggested it, I wouldn't be mad at them.
(4)
Channa P.

This is a pretty small space, so don't come here with more than a party of four. The cute bistro has a basic bar and several two-seat and four-seat tables. I went for brunch ($7 bottomless Sunday special y'all), but was in more of a burger and coke mood. I ended up with the very flavorful Lokal burger and fries. My sis got a great looking build your own omelette, and I was super close to ordering this beautiful looking egg and polish sausage sandwich. The service here was good, but I could tell my server was definitely pulling the weight of someone with a lot less urgency also serving in the room. All in all interesting menu, good food, and mimosas!
(4)
Alecia G.

This place was AWESOME! We had a group of 5 for brunch and called Lokal to ask about a wait time around 11:30am for brunch...10 minutes was the reply so we headed that way. We were seated as soon as we got there! Everywhere else we called had an hour or longer wait. We ordered our food and everyone loved their choices which is rarely the case. I had the chicken breast sandwich...normally not a fan bc most make it too dry. It had watercress, paprika aioli, apples, and blue cheese with the chicken. I switched out the multigrain bread for a brioche bun. It was amazing!!! Great flavor and the combo of ingredients were a perfect blend! The fries are just as amazing. The ketchup tastes like it's mixed with BBQ sauce...another great touch. Definitely recommended!!
(5)
DJ M.

Great list of funky cocktails. I ordered the Lokal burger it was fantastic. We'll be back.
(4)
Laura B.

The one star is for the potatoes. I got the breakfast sandwich. Kinda hard to mess up up, but it happened. Bad tomatoes, smothered in chipotle mayo, soggy bread and weird BBQ sausage. If you are looking for a place to go on you walk of shame walk home this seems to the place. They do have bottomless mimosas though.
(1)
Linsey R.

I really need to try this place for brunch, but until then they get 4 stars on account of the truffle fries. So delicious. Also, weekend nights are pretty chill here with Hip-Hop music and a nice crowd.
(4)
Belle L.

Value for $$. Entree portions are good for 2 persons. Daily specials on the blackboard. Pork Belly appetizer -- marble slice perfectly grilled. Ribs with Sauerkraut -- an original dish as saurkraut is hardly used in Chicago, except for NY hotdog. Generously sized ribs with 5-6 bones. LOOK-OUT: Server Eric is a dead ringer for Adam Levine of Maroon 5. Caution: Venue has residue smell of hops/beer. A star less.
(4)
Nicole A.

EXCELLENT food. The steak and eggs and biscuits and gravy are amazing. Horrible customer service
(3)
Darrick C.

I went for brunch on a Saturday morning, and I liked the casual atmosphere and the friendly staff. Everyone seems to order the bottomless mimosa, which is a pretty good deal for seven dollars. I got the steak and eggs and it was pretty large and satisfying portion. My friend got the po'boy, and that looked pretty delicious too. Overall, I like this place. It does not try to be anything more than it is - it's just about hearty food at a good price.
(4)
Whitney M.

We only drank here, but it was a nice small cozy spot to sit and chat. Not too loud, nice staff.
(4)
Vang H.

Hello deliciousness! We stopped in for brunch here and had a great experience. The place was low key and unassuming. The wait staff are very attentive... as my bottomless bloody mary never seemed empty! What a deal at $7! The food was also very good- we had: biscuits & gravy, grilled chicken croissant and the grilled sausage w/eggs. My favorite dish was the biscuits & gravy.
(4)
Allison K.

Terrible service, mediocre food. I rarely write reviews, but I felt this place warranted a review. My girlfriends and I went here on a sat night (with a reservation) for dinner. Our waiter took our appetizer order and ten minutes later came back and asked if we had been helped. He completely forgot what we ordered let alone that we ordered with him. We finally got our appetizers and then out main meals came out. They didn't remove the appetizer dishes until we had asked them to. The drinks were terrible, my friend and I barely could choke it down. They never came to ask how our meal or drinks were going. When we asked for our checks they still hadn't cleared our main course plates. The check came, plates still there. We asked to speak to a manager about the poor service and lack of communication amongst employees. Her response was that it's busy and the waiter probably got mixed up. However it wasn't that busy, there were open tables everywhere. And do mess up on so many things you can hardly say our waiter was "mixed up". I almost wish I would write a different review on how poorly the manager handled our complaint. We paid our bill. Plates still in front of us. Needless to say I will never be going back. It's in a great area, cute layout of a restaurant, and passable food. The terrible service alone will deter me from ever going back. Save yourself the frustration and go down the street to somewhere else.
(1)
Steven N.

Food is not bad, but service could use some improvement...especially in the area of attitude. We came here at around 8pm on Saturday. Since this place is more like a bar, we were seated right away. For a bar, their food menu actually looks pretty good. We got the $39 dinner for two special that came with an appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert. The value is great and the flavor was well executed. One of our suggestions for improviement is to give bigger portions. For example, the mussles were pretty tiny. Same with the scallops as an entree...and you only get two. The service department could use some help. To be clear, our waiter guy was super helpful and friendly. The people behind the bar could use a couple of attitude-adjustment courses. Not only are they not friendly, they plain ignored me when I asked them for something. I think the owner was there as well and she didn't seem too friendly either. Like we say in corporate America, it all starts with the top...
(3)
Maurilio G.

Nothing special on the menu that really wowed. Services was pretty bad. We were stuck in the back corner and our waitress kinda forgot about us. Can definitely see others having a better time, but it gave me no reason to go back.
(2)
C. L.

I had the sausage-gouda burger (sausage and gouda pieces were chopped and mixed in with the ground beef). This had to be the juiciest, most delicious burger I've ever tasted. Also, the waiters were friendly, and bathrooms were well decorated, clean, and smelled nice. I'll most definitely come back again. However, at 6:30pm, the music was way too loud. It's not a good place to go if you plan on having intimate conversation.
(5)
Jims L.

It may or may not be unfair that I mass review the restaurants I have been to a few times a year, and although I don't fairly recall what I ate at LOKal two months ago in detail, maybe that's also more telling than anything else. Had (1) cold pierogis on a not-pierogi special night, (2) yummy Pan seared arctic char, and (3) an okay chicken dish. Props to our sole server who I'm pretty sure was covering the entire place, full, that night.
(3)
Conrad J.

I'm going to preface this with I am polish, but I hope that that doesn't skew my thoughts of this place. Lokal is a much-needed gem in the city. After reading about it on Thrillist, I told my friend that we had to go. I have been to Polish restaurants in the past (Szala's, Czerwone Jabluszko, the White Eagle) and none of them made a decent attempt at changing traditional cuisine, unlike this place. First off, I was impressed after just having the bread; it was a freshly baked rye bun and had a side of honey-mustard w/ mustard seeds in it... as in they took a fantastic mustard as a base and made it their own. The bread tasted as if Red Hen was renting space in Lokal's kitchen. As a rule of thumb, when trying a new place out I tend to get whatever they have listed first in a specific section. I get the feeling that it is the dish that they want to show off first. I was expecting the beet soup to be akin to borscht: beet broth with shaved beets floating and on the bottom with extra points if they serve it with uszki (mini pierogi). What do they bring? A creamy soup which does not have the overly intense beet flavor, which is not for everyone, with a gentle ribbon of cream sauce on top. Totally unexpected and wholly delicious. On the side they have what I initially thought was an egg roll. No! It is a cabbage-filled, extended pierog (singular of pierogi) with a soft outside so that I could take a piece off with my spoon and dip it in the soup. Wow. They managed to take the traditional dish and give it a brand new conceptualization. And that was just the soup. When the braised short rib came out, it looked a little meager for what it cost. All it was was two little 3x3 potato pancakes (placki kartoflane, not latki) topped with a similar sized cube of meat and a dollop of cheese on top. I thought the excitement was over. Placed my knife over the stack expecting to take a bite of cheese + beef + pancake. I could not. The beef was so tender that it collapsed at the mere suggestion of my instrument of ingestion. After I picked up a piece that didn't want to completely fall apart I achieved the bliss that I was seeking now. The potato pancake was no less exquisite after reconstructing the deconstruction of the stackup and putting together that triplicate of a bite. After I ate it ALL, I was pleasantly satiated. I couldn't dare order dessert not only because I was running late (as I am now) but because I really couldn't physically do it. Eat here.
(5)
Marie K.

The food here is actually really good, though some dishes are really drenched in butter. Here's my problem with this place: Don't have $7 bottomless mimosas if you don't truly mean bottomless. Every time we come here for brunch we get pushed to the back or asked to leave as soon as we've finished eating. It takes forever to refill our drinks. They never once made us feel like we were welcome. They might be trying to be nice about it, but it's just rude. Now. That said, $7 bottomless mimosas is the best price in town.
(3)
Erika K.

This place was absolutely delicious. We had the mussels, duck confit and pork shoulder. Everything was tasty. I can't wait to try their brunch!
(5)
Lois A.

Wonderful! The dill potato salad is something I would love to be able to order an entire bowl of. It comes with kielbasa and beets and it's a fantastic way to start a meal. Also amazing here is the ham sandwich with cole slaw. This tasted so good and the bread was grilled perfectly. I've had a lot of hard bread recently at other places and this was exactly as I had dreamed it would be. Great burger. Good specials and really friendly staff. I can't think of anything not to like about this place...except for the fact that you can't order huge bowls of the world's best potato salad!! Yum.
(4)
Jim W.

More a review of the bartender/waitress than anything else. Coming into the restaurant on a night where we were the only clientele, Marissa hooked us up! And hopefully she felt we did the same This place is cool. The furniture is kind of Jetsons-ish, very white and bright. The walls are literally an art gallery with pieces for sale. I don't really know my genres, but I would guess impressionistic? They were very interesting to say the least. The food here is mixed. Mussels - were pretty bleh, kinda small and dry Polish sausage - excellente Goat cheese risotto - awesome, definitely quite rich The dessert was also quite heavenly. I forget what it was exactly but it was topped with a glazed pear with something like an apple strudel but better. They were out of a lot of beers, but the Golden Pheasant was great...dancing on the fine line between rich flavor and light....definitely not bland like Miller Lite. Try it! Would definitely come back to check out the scene when it's busier!
(4)
Jing Yuan L.

Service - awesome, bottomless mimosas - spectacular, food...eh. I went to Lokal (it's a Polish word for everyone who was wondering... probably should have asked what it meant...) for a friend's birthday brunch. We had a big group and the restaurant did an excellent job of setting aside space for us. They offer bottomless mimosas on weekends for the budget price of $7; there are also bottomless bloody mary's for those that are so inclined. The waitresses were very prompt in refilling mimosa pitchers and empty bloody mary's glasses for the group which was great because a buddy and I had begun a glass for glass mimosa drink off. But the food...it was oh so fantastically average. I ordered the Angus Steak and Eggs - medium rare and scrambled - and was very excited for the food to come out; I had high expectations because I didn't have anything but good things to say about Lokal so far. Upon arrival, I took a bite into my steak - neatly cut by the way - and *drumroll* ...it was cold and very bland. It tasted like some generic pork chop you would buy from Jewel Osco, season with some salt and cook in a pan - nothing distinctive or impressive about it. The eggs were okay at best - still a little runny and lukewarm. The tastiest item on the dish was the roast potatoes and only because they went heavy on the salt. Overall, an A-OK experience using yelp's rating system. I wouldn't go out of my way to head there again but if someone suggested it, I wouldn't argue tooth and nail against it.
(3)
Ashley C.

Oh......My..........God......... Seriously the food is amazing. I saw they had something on Groupon, so I figured it would be fun since me and a girlfriend were getting together. The atmosphere is kinda club meets restaurant. The long list of vodka is a panty dropper to say the least...We started out with some adult bev's and ordered the pork belly as a starter...Dear sweet Jesus did it melt in your mouth.. And no I'm not kidding. It was awesome. The place was pretty packed, but our server kept saying he was sorry and that he would be right back to help us..The staff was really friendly and helpful. I had the strip steak and my friend had the duck. Both were awesome. I asked for my steak to be medium and it was perfectly cooked.. We got there a little late so the DJ came in around 10:00. I thought it was going to get really loud, but it wasn't at all. The desert of the day was a Nutella cream with ice-cream which was also delicious All in all it was an awesome meal. The prices seem a little high, but the quality of the food makes it well worth it. Great place to come with a group of friends for a night on the town.
(5)
Francis F.

Excellent ambiance. Great unique drinks. Exceptional food with good mix of traditional polish ideas like dill sauce for chicken wings, delicious beet salad, scrumptious pierogi, and great entrees. All at a very reasonable price.
(5)
Hailey M.

I was with Martha D. in her review below (I was actually the birthday girl referenced) so I won't elaborate too much on what she offered, but I had to concur with the experience. It just wasn't there. On top of everything she said, we were there for 2.5 hours. Normally I would love a 2.5 hour dinner with my friends, but given the intense cold Martha D. mentioned, the atmosphere wasn't conducive to a long, enjoyable dinner. I did like the decor though, and probably liked my meal a bit more than Martha D so 2 stars. I wanted to like this place - it's across the street from me - but I didn't.
(2)
Nana H.

What happened?! My first visit was wonderful, we had a great surf and turf type meal, and fantastic mussels. I'd silently thought that this was a unnoticed gem, because this place is NEVER FULL and could always get in. I go to bring friends here this past week and the place is totally off. SO OFF that we stopped at the apps and didn't go forward with the rest of the meal, even after ordering a bottle of wine. The problem was partially the portions/price ratio and then mainly the poor cut of pork belly that we received. We'd ordered the mussels, which were good, but the portion was not shareable. The 3 of us probably got 3 mussels each...so you do the math. Also NO chef should serve pork belly that has cartilage and stringy bits in it! Pork belly is meant to be melt in your mouth buttery goodness. If you receive a bad cut, literally cut the fat and serve that only!
(2)
Pat S.

Went there for dinner last night with low expectations and ended up being pleasantly surprised. First, the service was excellent. We were in a time constraint and our friendly server got us in and out quickly. The food was excellent as well. We will definitely be coming back for their chicken entree and brunch.
(4)
Kristina B.

There was nothing bad about my experience here at all. Nothing. Ryan C. and I went to Lokal for brunch yesterday (when we found out that the wait for a table at Bongo Room was incredibly long). So glad it worked out that way. The atmosphere is cute. There's a bar up front with a bunch of tables in the back. The actual space is appropriate -- not too vast, not too cramped. The fixtures over the lights are pretty awesome. They look like some sort of threaded nests woven into balls. The service was good. Our waitress checked up on us numerous times and our plates were cleaned off the table fairly quickly. Plates...yes. After they had been emptied. Because I pretty much inhaled everything I ordered. We both got the Lokal sandwich, which involved egg, arugula, focaccia. Yum. I ate half of mine and took the other half to go (side note: I microwaved it that night for dinner, which was about 9 hours later, and it was still delicious!). I did, however, clean up the Nutella. Crisp pastry, warm nutella, raspberry sauce, bananas, strawberries...ugh ugh ugh. Did I even breathe while eating this? Probably not. It's amazing I'm still alive right now. I highly recommend this place for brunch. Can't wait to try it for dinner and drinks. Nutella-fiend, signing off.
(5)
Ermelinda C.

We were a group of five and decided to give LoKal a try last night - FANTASTIC. Pricey yes, but worth every bite of it ;-) We started off with the mussels, the perogis, and the sausage as appetizers. From the start we knew that we would love what came next... The goat cheese risotto was to die for - i finished the entire plate and it was NOT a small portion. The diver seared scallop pasta was amazing, just enough spicy and the scallops were cooked to perfection. The pork tenderloin was also very tasty. The deserts were by far the best I have had in Chicago in the recent year: the 70% dark chocolate and the butterscotch mousse were an out of this world experience. The presentation was superb, but I do have a suggestion: Please, pretty please, change the utensils between courses!
(5)
J J.

Nice atmosphere. Trendy area, so you get that type of crowd. BUT on the last Saturday of every month, there's a FANTASTIC DJ there (DJ Kwest_on) doing his organic thing. It's nice. Nice chill spot to roll to on a Saturday night if he's there. ;)
(3)
Nirali S.

I wasn't a fan of the decor, I pretty much felt like I was in a garage outfitted with tables and chairs. The bathroom was pretty dirty too, and the way it's situated, sort of in the middle of the room, it grosses you out when you're eating. Our waiter was friendly and helpful with our selections. My friend and I split the chicken wings appetizer, which I have to say, their homemade ranch sauce kicks ass because they use dill! My goat cheese risotto was decent, her pork tenderloins were average. The chocolate mousse dessert was the best part of the meal. I probably wouldn't go back, but if you go, make sure to get the wings just for the ranch! I wish they bottled that stuff, I'd consider buying it!
(3)
A G.

Best bloody marys, best mimosas, best watercress bella omlette, best potato pancakes, best pierogis... best everything. oh, and their beer is delightful too. just go here. eat, drink, listen to music and then sleep in the fancy booth in the back corner.
(5)
Lori B.

A perfect blend of Polish and American Gourmet, which is not only reflected in the cuisine and the decor, but also it's owners. This unknown gem is waiting for you to discover the most gracious hosts and delectable cuisine in the Wicker Park area. (No, I wasn't hired by the owners to write this and I do not know them personally) We found Lokal via Groupon and didn't bother calling ahead to check the hours. We arrived on a Saturday at 3:30 pm -- to find that Brunch was just ending. The hostess was kind enough to explain the groupon deal was for dinner and that would begin at 6:00pm. She was very helpful and suggested some things to do in the area to fill our time. When we returned at 6:30pm, we were greeted by the charming owner, a Polish American, who later introduced us to his American wife of only 2 months. The customer service and attention to detail was unparalleled not only from the owners, but the entire staff. The atmosphere was fun, upscale and welcoming with a distinct European feel. Now to the food -- a few of the choices for appetizer were Farm Smoked Kielbasa with potato salad, marinated beets and house mustard; Mussels in white ale broth , herbs, shaved fennel, smoked paprika and baguette or Berkshire Pork Belly with wilted kale, pickled celery and a drizzle of apple cider glaze. The pork belly, which came highly recommended, apparently won high honors in a recent competition. We chose the Farm Smoked Kielbasa platter and when I asked for a special Polish pickle on the side -- the owner sent over the Gourmet Cheese and Pickle appetizer on the house -- which was a very gracious gesture. For dinner we had the fish of the day -- Trout with lemon risotto, grilled asparagus and tomato jam; and Schnitzel with Truffle fries and coleslaw. The best way to describe the food? Every bite was perfectly tasty and the marriage of everything on the plate only accentuated the unique flavors. Some of the highlights for me were the dill potato salad. It was light and fresh and the tastiest potato salad I have ever experienced. The gourmet cheeses that were paired with pickled celery and a glazed that was drizzled over all, the lemon risotto and trout was a perfect combination and finally the truffle french fries and fresh coleslaw were to die for and had a fresh and unique taste unlike anything I've ever experienced. I should mention that my husband and I are not gourmet connoisseurs and we were pleasantly surprised by the experience of flavors and pairings. For dessert we shared chocolate ice cream that was drizzled with creme and caramel. Overall a wonderful evening. We left convinced that we would return and share the experience with our friends and family. I would highly recommend you visit Lokal. I feel confident that you won't regret it. Two things I might change? To serve ice in the water glasses (Not using ice is most definitely a European trait) and do away with the large screen TVs that were playing sports. I imagine this would be welcome during the brunch, especially on Sunday's, but not so much for dinner on a Saturday night. It took away from the overall experience of an elegant dinner.
(5)
Andre G.

I came here on vacation from Puerto Rico. The staff made us feel welcome and never got the side treatment we sometimes get because of our accents. Better yet, we never got the cheapo treatment for going with the Groupon thing. The food was great too. Im definetely going back if Im ever back at Chicago.
(5)
Cynthia A.

the food was great! fresh european style breakfast. great service and love the mimosas!!!!! unlimited.
(5)
Anna P.

I just got drinks here after dinner while in the area and thought it was pretty nice. On the night we went, all wines were $5, and they have a pretty good wine list (including sparkling!) so that was very exciting, especially in the neighborhood. The decor is kind of spartan industrial I guess? Not much to look at, but the service and drinks were good so I am not complaining. They were setting up for live music when we left, which is probably pretty loud given how small the place is. I'd go back to try the food.
(3)
Nancy Y.

We went on the Groupon (1appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert), and will definitely go back on our own -- it was so good! We started with the kielbasa (too predictable, right?) and it, and the beets and potato salad with which it was served was so flavorful, so elegantly presented, delicious with the cold Polish beer. I was veryhappy. And then the trout (with caper sauce, potatoes, beans with garlic) arrived, which was outstanding. And the strip steak came, actually grilled perfectly to our request for very rare. The herb/garlic butter on it, and its accompaniments were fantastic, flavorful, beautiful, exquisite. The dessert was a ho-hum icecream thing, but nicely done and delicious. And the waitstaff was attentive, but not too much so, and interested in our experience. Really excellent meal, experience. They have specials nightly, with Weds being much like the Groupon. Nice.
(5)
Gary D.

We had dinner here on a Sunday night last month. We brought an out of town guest of Polish descent who wanted to try a good Polish restaurant in Chicago. We were very pleased with our experience here. The vodka was great, as was the service. Our waitress was knowledgable and friendly. The food was good as well. I would definitely recommend this place. It wasn't very crowded at 7:00 PM, which we attributed to the great weather and relatively early dining time. We wish this place good luck and success in the future.
(4)
mar m.

I stopped in last night for a bite to eat, and this place is definitely a much needed addition to Wicker Park! I'm pretty picky about my cocktails, but the bartender made me a proper Hendrick's martini, and per her suggestion, a bison grass vodka/belvedere + apple (great call) The waitstaff were are really nice, and my spare ribs were on point...O ya, and big ol' polish beers for 4 bucks! I'll definitely be going back to try their biscuits and gravy. (I'm currently on the hunt for the best b&g in chicago:)
(5)
Keiko S.

Food was okay. We had mussels that were pretty good, but the flavor wasn't deep or anything. The strip steak left more to be desired. It was nothing special and the steak was tough to eat cooked at medium rare. The pork tenderloin was very tender compared to the steak. The cream sauce was too heavy but tasty. The dessert was a fried banana nutella fritter which sounds delicious but was actually inedible because the oil soaked through all the dough. I can't believe if we didn't have a groupon we would have paid over $80 for this meal. I wouldn't recommend it, but the waiter was nice!
(2)
jenny m.

Two friends & I came to take advantage of the Yelp Eat's deal, and what a fantastic deal it was. We left stuffed, slightly buzzed up, and with money still in our pockets....my favorite kind of dining experience! I instantly liked the feel of the place upon walking in. It's casual, but still feels a bit upscale. I felt comfortable being somewhat dressed up - but the table next to me was in flip flops. No pretentious vibe here. There's some high top tables at the front (score, I love a high top) and then more regular seating in the back. I think they also have a table or two outside, but I couldn't tell if that was just for drinks or if you could actually get food out there. Our server was super friendly and when we mentioned the Yelp deal, she didn't bat an eye (you never know with these deals if service will fall off). She brought the Yelp menu, explained how it worked, and then took our drink order. Half price Prosecco? Uhm, those are magical words to me! We were also there on a THursday which is 1/2 price ANY glass of wine. I didn't think we could take advantage because of the Yelp deal, but guess what, we could. Double score! My friends each got a different glass of red. The wine list isn't super extensive, a handful of whites & a handful of reds, but they each found something that was appealing to them. I did notice they have a lot of vodkas, even a vodka flight option. I guess vodka is loved by the Polish (?) so maybe that explains where their focus is (again ?, I really am just speculating). I only wish I liked vodka :-/ We started off with the cheese & pickle plate (which is not just pickles, it's pickled items as well), mussels, and the spinach pierogi. Yum, Yum, Yum. Not a fail in the bunch. The cheese & pickle plate had a couple of interesting cheeses on it, a warm crusty bread, and an assortment of pickled goodness. If you like sweet and tart combined, this is for you. I loved the mussels as well. The broth was so delicious, I was sopping it up with bread against my better judgement (I had a whole entree still coming). Man I just love a good mussel dish and this is up there in my top 5 in Chicago. The star though had to be the pierogi. Boy have I been missing out on these little bites of goodness all these years. I mean seriously, melt in your mouth. And topped with walnut pesto? I really wish I'd gotten a whole plate for myself (I get greedy when I like something this much). I will admit I'm not that familiar with Polish food - I just assumed that it was pretty meat centric and since I don't eat meat, I never thought to give it a shot. But if this is any indication of good Polish food - I'm a convert!! For our entrees, my one friend did the pork tenderloin and my other friend & I both went with the fish. We all were very happy with what we'd ordered - clean plate club all around. I will say though, that I probably could have just ordered another round of those spinach pierogi's for my dinner and have been just as happy. Service stayed pretty consistent throughout the meal, although there was a lull between our app's and entree's coming out where we all sat with empty wine glasses for probably 10-15 minutes. It was right about the time they got really busy so it's somewhat understandable. But, next time LOKal, just a quick glance at the table as you pass by would be nice! We left around 930ish and they were just getting set up for a band. I think in this space, having live music while you ate dinner would be somewhat loud and overwhelming so I'm glad we finished up prior to that. But, I would go back for a glass of wine, and a light snack or two at the bar while enjoying the music. It'd be a great place to start out a night in the area.
(4)
Stephanie Y.

LOKal was at the Yelp holiday event, I believe. I remember thinkin they were absolutely wonderful. I saw a Groupon for them about a month ago and had to buy it. I ended up bringing a friend along, and we shared an appetizer and entree. We went with the kielbasa for the appetizer. I think we were in the middle of chatting about some random girl stuff when we first started eating. The second we tasted it, all chatting stopped and both of us just looked at each other and "mm'd" for a good minute. I can't seem to remember what we had as our entree, but I know it was equally as good. I enjoy the presentation of the food, but I also like that you get a decent amount. Unlike some other more fancy restaraunts... Our server was fun, too. He checked with us often enough without being over bearing and kept us laughing. A+ all around!
(5)
Lauren H.

blah....not impressed at all. I really had high hopes for this place and had been waiting to try it when I figured all of the kinks had been ironed out. Overall I wasn't impressed. While nothing tasted bad, of the 4 dishes we ordered only 1 was what we would consider good. Everything seemed to be lacking in flavor. Here is what we ordered Salad: the mushrooms were cold and oily and overall the salad had zero taste. probably was the worst out of all the dishes ordered Scallops: the one sauteed scallop was tasty, but there was only one of them, which seemed really chintzy to me. then there was some scallop Ceviche (random right, I mean this is a polish restaurant right?). clearly, they had not channeled the Gulf of Mexico, because it was without flavor and lacking in any acidity. Pierogies: Ya I loved these! Clearly they know how to make a damn good pierogi. Short rib: was so under salted, there really was no flavor to the sauce underneath, and it was very runny. The meat itself was well prepared, it just didn't have good flavor. Don't go here, there are too many options in Wicker Park/Bucktown that are going to give you a stand out meal, not just one dish that stands out
(3)
Double L.

Came here with a friend for brunch on Sunday and thought it was great. The staff is really friendly. The dÃ©cor is nice, minimal and modern. There are a couple of half booths but for the most part it is all table seating. For everyone complaining about the bottomless Mimosas, either they heard you or your expectations are pretty unrealistic. Our waitress was right on top of when I needed another one. I could see that being a bit slower once they got really busy. We were there around 10.30 am and they were only full. I got the Duck Confit, which was pretty tasty. The blueberry spread it came with could probably use a bit more time aging but it didn't ruin the dish by any means. The duck was perfect and the poached eggs were also really good. I think that item is $13 or so which is a bit pricey but only having to spend $7 on booze makes up for it. My friend got the Pork 'Belly' dish. I'm pretty sure it was pork tenderloin and not belly but either way it looked and tasted really good. We also ordered some food to-go to take to the beach and use up her Groupon. I got the Ahi sandwich and she got the margarita. Ahi was just o.k.. Fish was cooked well and there was nothing wrong with the sandwich but it was definitely average all the way around. The Margarita looked pretty tasty. Can't speak to the dinner menu. Definitely worth checking out if you want a casual but semi-fancy brunch experience.
(4)
Wendy G.

I liked it. My friends loved it. Yummy food.
(4)
R R.

My BFF and I were walking around the Wicker Park area and happened upon Lokal. I heard good things about it. So we decided to try it for Sunday brunch. To begin, they have bottomless mimosas, champagne and bloody marys. We had the mimosas. I ordered the Nutella Frites, which is basically French toast with nutella, bananas and berries. It is very good but the portion is large so definitely share! My BFF had the Potato Pancakes and she loved the fried egg with the side sauces. This was a nice treat on an afternoon walk and window-shopping. NOTE: They have specials through out the week, so check their website for a day that works for you. Chitown Veg Gal
(3)
Aaron K.

Love the vibe this place puts off and the front-of-house staff is friendly and attentive, but the food is just not up to snuff for the neighborhood or the listed prices. Given the descriptions I expected bold flavors and killer cocktails to match. What I got was a muddled mess on my plate, with some bites tasting great and other combinations just appalling (black olive on duck breast just doesn't work.) The cocktails also left a bit to be desired - and I couldn't rely on my old standby of a Manhattan or Old Fashioned as they didn't have the proper ingredients. (I'm still not sure what they were doing with the bourbon and rye on the shelf.) There are plenty of other options for our Bucktown / Wicker Park adventures. Don't think we will be headed back this way unless I am looking for some new art to put on the walls. (Like I said, really love the decor.) Maybe their brunch is better, but I doubt we'll find out.
(3)
Victor C.

Quite possibly the best alternative take on biscuits and gravy I've had in the city. The rest of their food is great. If I'm in for dinner, pulled pork or the burger...if it's late night, an assortment of pierogis! At night, the lounge vibe is classy and cool but not pretentious, with excellent music every night. Thursdays any wine for $5 is a great time to dine late and listen to some nu-disco, downtempo, funk, soul, hiphop and deep house. Bartenders are awesome and attentive, make some great shots and great conversation. Make LoKal your spot to go!
(5)
Susan F.

Had the pork belly app, duck leg and fish of the day...all were excellent! Got there right at 6pm on Friday, so no wait and good service throughout.
(5)
Rich G.

I had a late dinner at LKal a few weeks back and I can't emphasize how sad the experience was. The food was underwhelming at best. The kielbasa wasn't bad, but pairing it with cold sauerkraut was a bizarre choice. The pierogis were lukewarm and not particularly tasty, especially paired with a cloying sweet sauce. And for some reason rosemary was sprinkled on everything. Not chopped rosemary - whole sprigs and leaves. I appreciate the thought, but if I wanted shrubbery on my meal I'd ask for it. And then probably go chop down the tallest tree in the forest with...A HERRING! The service was uniformly slow and confused. Orders were forgotten, drinks were poorly mixed and slow to the table. The only thing that saved this place from one star is that our server was well aware of the problems and extremely apologetic. Even to the point of writing "I am so very sorry" on our check. Yeah. We're not going back. There are far too many options in Wicker Park/Bucktown for us to give the place another chance.
(2)
Scott H.

A Hidden Gem in Bucktown ...great food value ...super friendly staff ..hang out at the bar after your dinner... Fun times !
(5)
Kristy N.

Had a killer group-on for this place ($50) and stopped in with 2 friends for brunch al fresco (love!). You probably know by now about their mimosa deal - all you can drink for $7 while you're eating. They don't seem to be too strict on this (but we made sure to eat at a leisurely pace - it is brunch after all). Refills were aplenty and there was no sense of judgment passed. I ordered the Watercress Bella Omelet which was unbelievable! I literally thought about it for several hours after - it was that good. I ordered it with egg whites and it did not turn into a watery mess, even with the mushrooms. The potatoes were also very good. I believe that my fellow mimosa-drinkers ordered the Lokal sandwich and the Grilled sausage - both seemed to be thoroughly enjoyed. This place is pretty solid but the extra star is for the especially hot waiter. Worth slapping on some make-up on a Sunday in my book!
(5)
Katie K.

Went here for the first time 2 weeks ago. We didn't need a reservation, although we had one anyway. The food was fantastic and reasonably priced! I had the Scallop mushroom pasta and I have been thinking about it since. This place deserves the full 5 stars!
(5)
Jon T.

We had a group of 8 there for an early dinner before hitting the town and we had a really great time. In fact, the food was better than I expected. When I first saw the menu I thought they may be trying a bit hard but, they absolutely backed it up. My borscht was fantastic and as was my beef tartare which had just enough truffle oil without overpowering the dish. All the friends were happy as clams with their dishes too. As for libations, they're wine list is small but, very moderately priced. Had a good value Italian red for just under $35 which is all good by me. The service was accommodating too, although a bit overly worried at first. When we arrived, without reservations around 6pm, there wasn't a table seated yet, only people at the bar drinking. When they said they had nothing available, we were kinda shocked....they said they had a lot of reservations coming. We totally understood since half of our group runs hotels and/or restaurants and said we were looking for a relatively quick dinner since we had other plans to follow. So, they rolled the dice and said ok...a bit hesitantly but nonetheless they gave us the go ahead. And I'm certainly glad they did. I'd definitely check it out again.
(4)
Swati B.

This place is awesome!!!!!! David is the best server ever!!!!!! Bottomless drinks are the shiznit. We ventured into wicker park to try out this restaurant and we weren't dissapointed. Everyone enjoyed their meals. The biscuits and gravy were delicious. I will definitely be coming back very soon.
(5)
Stan W.

Pretty pricey and just not very good. I got the polish sausage and pierogi appetizers, thinking I'd give the place a chance to wow me with their double/triple priced takes on these classics. The sausage was like $8 and turned out to be two 1-inch long pieces of relatively plain sausage. The pierogi was more like an undercooked chinese potsticker than a pierogi. Can't even remember what I got for the main course, it must've been pretty bland.
(2)
Porsch K.

I must say that I was IMPRESSED by this place. I should first start off by saying how often I've driven past this place and not once have I saw LoKal, until a friend suggested this hidden treasure. The service was great and our food came out fairly quickly. NOW, I do wish I would have gotten a heads up about the salads. If you are starving like I was, PLEASE DO NOT just get a salad, you have to get something else in addition to fill you. This was the only downfall BUT my salad was absolutely delicious and rewarding after every bite. The name of my salad was Arugala (I think is the name). It was a mixed salad w/ spinach w/ pears, cranberry, caramelized walnuts (don't bite too hard, these bad boys are hard when munching) and it was a house vinegarette dressing that was to die for. My date had a chicken sandwich, and after the first bite, I wanted to smack the cook...that's how awesome the sandwich was. I WILL be back to this place and will mos def try a little more on the menu.
(5)
Jennifer C.

We went to Lokal last Sunday after hearing about it from a friend. Unfortunately we were disappointed. The mimosas were a mix of water and orange juice...I drank 5, I would know. It was actually a waste of $7.00. And although I appreciate a good deal, I would rather pay for a good drink than have 5 watery ones. The food was BLAND. It was a shame because we had such high hopes after reviewing the menu. The other three people in our group all agreed: over priced bland food. On a side note, our server was great. She was extremely attentive and never once did she give us a hard time about refilling our "bottomless mimosas and bloody marys" as others have commented. If the drinks were better and the food more flavorful we might consider going back...
(2)
Alex F.

Gave this place another whirl, this time for dinner. Very underwhelmed by the food (they had a lot of Polish themed dishes on their menu at the time), and for the price I feel we could have done better. Time like these is when the atmosphere and service of the place can really make up for lack luster food. However, the dysfunctional utensils and the overly "trendy" decorations add nothing to the experience.
(2)
Graciela V.

This place absolutely rocks!!! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE their burgers!!! DE-LISH!! Albeit, a bit pricey for a burger and fry but very tasty that I kinda didn't mind ;) My husband had the pork tenderloin and that was also very good. I will definitely keep coming back to this place. Very friendly staff and cute inside.
(5)
Victor H.

Our server Kristen was extremely nice and attentive. The food is on the pricey side but the quality is definitely there. The ribs were fantastic. the seats near the door are too close to each other. The couple next to us was sitting inches away and kept on kissing and hugging each other for 2 hours...Awkward....
(4)
Jacob D.

Spell Bound Presentation I was there for dinner today (8/8/10). I was totally delighted to try the new delights from Europe. The names were alien, but the foods were tantalizing, the presentation was outstanding. I stuck to the vegetarian courses, because I didn't find anything that was chicken or turkey or lamb. I had a tomato with the most delicious dressing. Then I had a small bite version of a potato patty that was also tasteful. The meats they serve are pork, beef and some sea foods. The dessert was homemade choco moose, whoa, it was so delicious! I just wish there would be chicken, fish, lamb, turkey selections in the future. The service was so wonderful. I felt I was at a home in Europe. I don't drink alcohol so I didn't try the large array of European wines.
(5)
Tabitha G.

This is a hidden gem. Honestly, what drew me in (like many others) is the bottomless bloody marys and mimosas. Don't think, however, that you can switch between both drinks because you can't, so think long and wise about your beverage selection if you decide to do the bottomless option. Based on the reviews, my expectations weren't high, but they weren't low. Again, I was there for bottomless drinks on a Sunday Funday. But I was pleasantly surprised with how good the food was. The portions are the perfect size. Not the over sized American portions that you'll get a your local Chili's or Cheesecake factory, but a normal size that leaves you comfortable. Not too full and not too hungry. We went for brunch and since I'm not a huge breakfast person I opted for the steak sandwich served on a french baguette with blue cheese. The steak was cooked to perfection and the bread was just the way I liked it, crisp on the outside and soft in the middle. The best part was the side dish which were shoe string potato fries. My favorite! I mean, who doesn't love crispy fries cooked in extra oil? After much thought, I decided to have the bottomless bloodies that day. I was worried that they would be so filling and so full of sodium, but not the case. I will say though that they weren't the best bloodies and by the 4th one I had wish I opted for mimosas instead. For some reason the bloodies were a little watered down, but also tasted like a mushy tomato. I also like my bloodies where I can taste some alcohol and everything else that was in the drink pretty much diluted any sight of alcohol. Because I didn't leave with a buzz, or hungrier than when I got there, it leads me to question whether or not it did have any. Nonetheless, LOKal is an OK spot to get good food and bottomless drinks for less at a fantastic price. I would definitely go again!
(3)
Mr. N.

I like. Went on a Saturday night. Nice lounge feel (very much like Rodan), and in a good way. No douche bags and good downtempo music you can talk over or go dance to. Polite staff. The make or break for this place is how sophisticated they keep the music. I can easily see it turning into Barley Corn if they aren't careful. But from what I saw last night I was in love with the crowd and the sounds. :)
(4)
Andrew B.

Ultimately I care about the food and this place delivered. A legitimately inventive and inspired menu... kind of New American with a Polish twist (or New Polish if there is such a thing)? The plated presentation was also creative and appealing. I suspect I will up the food review to five stars after I've eaten here a few times and found all my favorites. I would be remiss however to not mention the service, which basically defined amateur hour. Had to ask for our water to be filled in the first place and then subsequently refilled, they gave us bread and no bread-plates, then gave us our entrees and no silverwear (after removing the original set), then we split the bill between two credit cards and they charged us each the full amount rather than half each. Besides for the last credit card gaffe, our server who was incredibly nice, helpful and obviously a bit embarrassed, was not to blame but clearly this place needs to figure this part of the equation out. I was out with close friends, the dinner was casual, and the waiter was apologetic, so I'm not building the service into my rating. If you care about such things though, you might want to give them a few weeks to work out the kinks.
(4)
Andrew F.

This place was pretty good. Went there for brunch and the food has some very interesting flavors. It's also nice to do the mimosa / bloody mary brunch specials outside of Lakeview / Lincoln Park areas from time to time. Will be back.
(4)
Sarah W.

Update! Last time I went there for brunch (bottomless mimosas, mind you), the waiter jauntily sidestepped my request for a (vegan) salad, and suggested that the chef use lentils instead of eggs and mix me an impromptu lentil and veggie bake. Since the potatoes off the menu were already legit (no butter, etc), I also had a side of those. My breakfast was GREAT and I will be back. Nice job, Lokal!
(4)
Cielo S.

Executive summary: Go around 1pm. Bring a fan or dress lightly. Order ahi tuna or steak and eggs. Have a mimosa. Enjoy! Went to Lokal for brunch with my mom and sister on a Saturday around 1pm. The place was steamy hot-- not sure why but they did not appear to have AC or fans running. Hostess brought us ice water while we waited, which was VERY necessary. It wasn't too crowded though, so I recommend going around this time if you don't want to wait around forever. The server was super nice and attentive, and made great food recommendations. We had the ahi tuna burger, steak and eggs, and fish and chips. I'd definitely recommend the tuna burger and steak and eggs over the fish and chips next time (it was good but nothing special and the sides that came with fish and chips were odd-- green peas and some fries-- consider trading up for a salad or something else if you go for this!). The food came out very quickly, which we appreciated. The mimosa was delish (no ice!). Altogether, this was a no-nonsense, satisfying brunch off the beaten path. My mom repeatedly compared it to Lula's-- in case you're a fan (we are). The crowd is mostly young and hip. I would definitely go back.
(4)
Jessalyn B.

Lokal - would be a 5 if not for the horrible wait times I have had whenever I've gone. The food is great. I have only been there for brunch, but enjoyed my meal each time. However, I went there with two friends for a birthday and we had reservations for 11. We weren't seated until 11:45, with no apology.
(3)
Aditi M.

Came here for brunch on a Saturday morning after reading a few rave reviews and was underwhelmed. Although we had a reservation, we had to wait for some time, but they did allow us to add two people to our table which was nice. It was a hot day and it was equally as hot, if not hotter, in the restaurant. We did the "Mimosa Brunch" and the service was decent, but I did need to flag down the waiter from time to time for refills. Our food came fairly quickly, and I ordered the Potato Pancakes while my friends had the Smoked Salmon Benedict and the Pork Belly and Eggs. The potato pancakes were good, but nothing extraordinary, the pork belly was apparently dry, and my friend wasn't crazy about her smoked salmon. The Bloody Mary was not particularly good, but it is somewhat unique that they even have a "Bottomless Bloody Mary" option. We also found that one of our napkins had a large stain on it, which was slightly unsettling. The atmosphere was loud, which I personally don't mind, and they did play "loud rap music" as is mentioned in many of the other reviews, which I also did not mind. Overall, $9 bottomless mimosas is a great deal and the waiters did not usher us out despite how small of a place it is and how busy they were. I can definitely see myself returning considering its convenient location near the blue line.
(3)
Sallyann Z.

Made reservations at Lokal through Open Table for Saturday brunch. When we showed up, we still had to wait an absurd amount of time as if we just showed up without reservations! The place was super crowded and there was barely standing room to wait. When we finally got seated, of course, the first thing we did was order the bottomless mimosas. You could tell the waiters were all crazy busy. He even had to stand up on the bar to get around. But, when bottomless mimosas are at stake, I can't forgive when they fail to come by our table so we can ask for refills. The actual drink was decent. Unfortunately, the table next to us clearly had way too much to drink, because they were extremely loud and obnoxious, ruining the classy vibe of the place. As for the food, we ordered the truffle fries, which were tasty, but they came with a rather thick aioli. I was going to pass and opt for the ketchup, but their housemade ketchup was way too tangy and not sweet enough for my liking. I ordered the salmon benedict (classic brunch move), It was good, but the salmon was kinda choppy and made me rethink my usual theory that salmon benedicts never disappoint. This place is good, but for this price, I've definitely had better and with a less cramped atmosphere. I won't be back, not even for bottomless mimosas :(
(2)
Tiff J.

Came a few weeks ago for brunch. Made reservations. Did not matter because we still had to wait forever. No one knew what was going on (I think the barback was on double duty because he was also the host). There was no reservation list that i saw. They completely winged it. The food was good but everything else was very unorganized. If you have extra time to kill and want to drink cheap then this is the place. If not go elsewhere.
(2)
Zorin D.

It was a random stop here for Saturday Brunch before a music festival. Thing is the music festival would start early for us by dining here. The place has a really loud club vibe which is no problem for me as long as you keep the food and mimosas coming out of the kitchen quickly. That was not the case in our visit. I was seconds from walking out the door on them. It's really kind of a shame because otherwise it would be a good place. Listen if you don't like loud rap music, this is not the place for you. I don't mind keeping the party going on a Saturday morning so it's not a big deal. Waiting sucks though. I don't know if someone callled in or something but it seemed as if noone wanted to claim our table as their own. Our water glasses remained unfilled. The mimosas went empty, halfway through eating the food. It was close to thirty minutes before we were even acknowledged as being there. On the bright side the kitchen was blazing fast. Our food came out within minutes of ordering. Was the food spectacular? Not really. It was satisfying and I'd probably give this place four stars if my experience with service wasn't so abysmal.
(2)
Portia S.

My favorite brunch spot in Chicago hands down! I take all of my friends and guests visiting from out-of-town there and they are always impressed. I definitely think this is the best deal in town. As most brunch spots have either cheap prices OR quality food, LoKal has BOTH. Try the steak and eggs! The chimichurri sauce that is on top of the steak is AMAZING. Love this place!
(5)
Aklilu A.

Damn where do I start, Lokal is literally the first thing I think of when I think of brunch in Chicago. If you've never been, you should go right now! Service is great, everyone is happy and eager to help. There's always a great special going on everyday, I'm a big fan of the weekends and their unlimited mimosas. The atmosphere is laid back, artsy, they have a cool wall filled with vinyl records. As for the food, I've been here a couple times and like to surprise myself but I've pretty much tried everything. The last time I was there I had the Duck Benedict and the nutella french toast. Shared the nutella toast with friends and had the duck benedict to myself. The duck was delicious, savory and tender. The nutella french toast was a nice little dessert to end the whole experience. Downed it all with some great mimosas. I always go home completely filled and end up in a food coma for a little bit, but it's always worth it. Like I previously said, you should go right now!
(5)
Danielle W.

Pretty disappointed in this "brunch" place. The Bloody Mary bar is less than impressing. They put a couple olives and a lemon as a garnish.... I had the lokal sandwich by the recommendation of our waiter with a side of bacon. Thank god I ordered the bacon because the polish sausage in the sandwich was disgusting and overcooked. At 11:30 they put on rap music, which in my mind isn't an ideal ambience for a casual brunch with friends. I love exploring new brunch places but I would steer clear from this place unless you want to go to a club with sub-par food in the morning.
(1)
Raj D.

Disappointing experience! Recently visited for Brunch on a Sunday due to the intriguing bottomless mimosa special pricing of only $7 (until your'e done eating). The mimosas were made to perfection and the only reason I rated this restaurant a 2 star. Truffle fries were absolutely on point and delightful. Restaurant was clean but a bit small. They do have a few TV's which is nice if you want to catch a game. Waiting area is quite small and pictures on the wall are a bit hipster but fits the vibe. The downside was that we were very rushed throughout our meal and the waitress told us that she needed to "turn our table in the next 10 minutes so we could pack up our food if we would like." I found this very rude and displeasing. Check was brought before 50% of our meals were finished. I ordered my burger medium well and ended up with a perfectly pink piece of meat. Overall I do not plan on going back and am disappointing because I walked in thinking this would become my new brunch spot and a cheap mimosa deal for my wife. I do not plan on going back and I do not recommend this restaurant due to the inconsiderate treatment.
(2)
Gina S.

We liked our food here - and it was a good value. $10 for the mussles special WITH truffle fries? And it was all good. My fiance had a steak salad which he also thought was really great.. Drawbacks - overpriced drinks: I paid $10 for a mediocre glass of vino verde, for instance. -ambiance: it's like this place is going for two things - sports bar and industrial/chic farm to table. They really clashed for us, especially with the Blackhawks game on. I'm not sure we would come again...maybe if we wanted good food while watching some sports game we would consider it though.
(3)
Xiaoxi W.

I feel this place is definitely underrated. The first time I came here, it was a lounge for night drink. And then I came here today because this is only several brunch places open in wicker park. I ordered the steak salad, which is awesome and delicious. And my BF ordered the Mushroom Benedict, which is yummy too. This is the first time we feel the brunch food is not enough for us and we have to order desert for Brunch. Anyway, definitely surprise me. I will come back and recommend to my friends. BTW, the mimosa is amazing and free refill. Special on weekend.
(5)
Sally Y.

I really wanted to give this place a 1 star rating, but the food is too good. We made a reservation for a large party at 1:15pm and weren't seated until after 2pm. The restaurant was packed and everyone was staying at their tables for hours to take advantage of the bottomless mimosas. Then once seated the waiter only came by once to check on us after taking our order, and I even had to go give him our credit cards to pay bc it was taking forever. It's unfortunate their service operations aren't done well bc the food is really good. I don't intend to go back any time soon, but if I do, it'll only be with one other person and early or late in the day when they can actually manage the crowd.
(2)
Carmisha F.

Love this place! This is one of my favorite brunch spots! Bottomless mimosas for about $9! The only downfall is the wait times can be very long but the food is amazing and worth the wait. I've never had anything on the menu I didn't like and I've tried most items!
(4)
Nava N.

Just an Ok experience. I came here for brunch with my boyfriend today. The restaurant was packed and people who were waiting for tables were cluttered around the bar and door. Luckily we had made a reservation on Open Table, but when we got inside, we couldn't locate the hostess and no one was there to greeting anyone. We asked one of the girls behind the bar for assistance and she rudely shot back that she wasn't the hostess and pointed to another girl in the crowd who apparently was the hostess. The hostess did seat us promptly and we ordered the bottomless mimosas for $9. The mimosa gets 5 stars because they were super potent! We could see the bartenders pouring half a bottle of champagne into each mimosa carafe. My boyfriend ordered the french toast. He thought it was good, but it was a little soft. I had the duck confit benedict which was good as well. I didn't really have any problems with the food, but it was nothing to write home about either. In general, I think the portions were actually a bit smaller than most other brunch spots I have visited in the past. I definitely was full by the end, but that may have also had to do with all the mimosas I was drinking. The atmosphere is VERY noisy and it's difficult to have a conversation so be aware of that before you come. It's quite a casual environment, but I think the wait staff may have taken that casual atmosphere a bit too far. First of all, the entire staff was dressed incredibly sloppily, as if they had all just rolled straight out of bed. One waitress was wearing sweatpants and a tank top, and also clearly not wearing a bra. Her clothes were dark colored so you could also see stains all over them from what was likely food. At one point her sweatpants had water splattered all over the front. It was just very off-putting that this person was handling the food I was consuming. I don't expect them to be wearing uniforms, but I do expect restaurant staff to be dressed a bit better than dirty pajamas. Overall, brunch for 2 with mimosas comes out to about $50. There are just too many great brunch spots in this city. I don't see myself coming back here.
(3)
Mariposa R.

Super trendy brunch, restaurant decor and space leaves much to be desired - food was great though
(3)
Marina N.

Came here for Brunch with a friend, and the food was superb! I often feel as though brunch can be fun, but I need to starve for the next 3 days to make up for my chicken fried sandwich on waffle toast with gravy. Lokal however was excellent food, with great healthy offerings. The music and overall vibe was lively without being too loud or obnoxious. The staff was helpful, attentive and engaging. I can't wait to try this place one evening for dinner...I hear they have a live DJ nightly!
(5)
Jane F.

This place rocks! Bottomless mimosas!!!! 'nuff said. But seriously..killer food too. Just so much tastiness! Agreed with other yelpers - this place was packed! So packed we got bumped from a table we were saving. Oh well, that's what we get for having late friends right? Can't wait to come back when I visit!
(4)
Luke K.

Good specials and good service. Mussels and Fries $10 on Fridays. Also, the portion size was pretty generous especially for specials. It's a smaller space but good vibe and very polite people. The truffle fries have parmesan cheese on them which add some flavor. The sauce to go with the fries is also pretty good too.
(4)
Jennifer K.

We were excited to go to Lokal after hearing about the bottomless mimosas from a friend. However, we were definitely disappointed about our brunch experience. The mimosas were a waste of $7.00, all I drank was orange juice. The food was bland and portions were just ok. We won't be going back. Two stars for our great server though.
(2)
Miriam B.

Had an amazing first meal here late last night. Juicy burger on a brioche bun with aioli and micro greens with Greg cut fries topped with sea salt on special for 6?. Yes please. They have an extensive drink and beer list too. Ask for Eric the bartender he's very pleasant
(5)
Neema P.

This is an update to my prior review. Two of my friends and I decided to "celebrate" Valentine's Day. We made reservations as well. When we got there the hostess told us we would have to wait 10-15 mins or sit in a corner at the community table. That didn't so bad, so we chose the community Table. Our server forgot that we had ordered appetizers and acted like we didn't order with him, the food was good, but the drinks sucked. Seriously this place doesn't make me want to come back because of how poor the service was. We asked for the manager and she didn't even apologize and just said seems like maybe the server was overwhelmed. I'm sorry you know it would be a busy night, why not over staff. I gave 1 star because she gave us a 10% discount on the food and removed our round of drinks. Quite the damper on our evening plans.
(1)
Reggie R.

I echo some other reviews in saying that Lokal is a great spot for boozy brunch or Sunday funday. Bottomless mimosas for about $10? Sign me up! My friend and I split an omelette and the BLT. I really love me a good BLT, and this was one of the best! Definitely passed the sniff test :) the omelette was so-so. The only thing I wasn't the biggest fan of is the lighting and atmosphere. It's a rather long and skinny building, causing there to be no natural light towards the back of the restaurant. But that's the only complaint!
(4)
Andrew K.

Lokal sucked me in with their "half off the whole menu Tuesday" deal. I came in and ordered the New York strip steak, pork belly miso soup, and a beer. For $19 bucks that's a great deal, but the service was awful. It took us almost 2 hours to eat. The beers were served warm. And the person who I was with got a hamburger and found a piece of paper that the cheese comes with on his sandwich. I will never come back here even if they offer it to me for free, simply because I don't have 2 hours to waste on a meal on a Tuesday night. Also... The waitress didn't write anything down when she took our order. We were a party of 6, and she made several critical mistakes when putting in our order. I'm all for waitresses who can memorize orders.. But you gotta get it write. Horrible experience, won't becoming back, only 2 stars because I got a good deal.
(2)
Jillian M.

I give them 4 stars only because on their dinner menu, everytime I find something I love and it's perfect, the next time I go, it has been slightly altered. With that being said, my bf and I come here mostly for brunch now. For at least 4 or 5 visits our order was the same every time. 2 LoKal breakfast sandwiches and 2 bottomless mimosas....then come home and promptly take an alcohol induced early afternoon nap. I recently tried to branch out and have ordered something different the last 2 times. The scallop Benedict which now closely rivals the perfection that is the LoKal breakfast sandwich and the mushroom Benedict which was good but not on the same level as the scallops or sandwich. We have tried the Nutella Frittes and truffle fries and neither one disappoints. When we came here for dinner a lot we fell in love with their steak tartare and it closely rivals Sola for the best in the city, it might actually be better than Sola's....I think it depends on my mood....maybe they're tied. They're different but they both deliver in different ways.... The mussels are great.... And like I said, they keep switching up the menu and changing my favorite dish so at the moment I don't have one. I'm going tonight, I hope I find one and I hope it's not changed or altered the next time I go.
(4)
Falcon R.

The service was good, and the atmosphere dim for brunch time. The waiter was knowledgable with the menu and had a great sense of humor. I attached a photo of the bottomless mimosas for your reference. Truffle fries were okay, however; the pork belly was very good.
(4)
Susan J.

Perfect brunch place for the weekend. Unlimited mimosa deal is very hard to deny. Food is carefully crafted and fresh. You'll want more when you finish your plate. Ambiance is awesome!
(4)
Annemarie L.

Absolutely ADORE this place! Amazing atmosphere and even better food! See my guy Ryan Murphy for excellent service, he'll take care of your needs...including endless Bloodies and Mimosas on Sunday's. Place is so great, they're opening up a SECOND location. Definitely recommend the Duck Confit Benedict and Truffle fries, for sure.
(5)
Kara A.

Had brunch this past Sunday with friends. I'm glad when did open table because the place was packed when we got there. The place had a nice vibe, our server was nice and the food was good. The unlimited mimosas with our food was such a great idea
(4)
Sonia B.

Lokal is great! We came here last Saturday with friends. We made a reservation via Open Table, and would recommend others to do the same because it can get quite busy during weekend brunch. I had the Lokal Breakfast Sandwich and (a few) mimosas--so good! I would definitely get both again. My friends got the Duck Confit Benedict, BLT, Arugula Salad, Truffle Fries, and Calamari. We loved everything. A couple potential downsides is that it can get a little loud with the music. It's can get crowded too, mostly because it's a small space, so that's something to keep in mind. Also, I noticed the coffee price is a bit high at $3.95 for a cup. Unfortunately, the price steered me away from getting it. Overall though, I am very much looking forward to coming back!
(4)
Joel M.

Went for drinks on Saturday night. When we arrived the music was off and we could talk, but just after we ordered drinks the DJ started playing music ridiculously loud. We couldn't hear ourselves or the waitress. We asked the waitress to turn down the music but a "dance party" was coming so that's what the music was for and they couldn't turn it down. When we left half an hour later not a single person had "danced" and about half the people in the bar had already left. To bar management: you are not a night club, stop trying and cater to the demographic that actually is in your bar. The drinks were so-so. Bars with mediocre drinks and stupid loud music are a dime a dozen, I don't recommend this place.
(2)
Brandon B.

5 stars. Bottomless mimosas for $9. Great omlets! What more do you want for brunch? Highly recommended!!
(5)
Matt D.

We took full advantage of the Mimosa and Bloody Mary Brunch special, which might I say was the cheapest I've seen yet in the city. Be mindful that you might not be seated until the whole group has arrived. Everyone ordered something different from the menu and came out in a manageable time. A couple things to note, they will make it very challenging to continue the 'Endless' brunch drink specials once you've completed your meal. So order $2 toast and keep the partying going. Also, they will try to throw a 20% gratuity on the bill even though the menu does not state this. They will remove it for you upon request. All in all, the service was extremely sub-par, the cost was fair, and I hope that they increase their staff so that the overall experience improves. My rating scale is as follows: Service: 1/2 star Ambiance: 4 star Brunch Menu: 4 star Cost: 3 star I'll be back in 6 months.
(3)
Tiffany C.

I usually go here to listen to DJ Kwest-on on Saturday nights once a month. Its a cool place. Im a fan. Food: Ive never eaten here so I can not say Drinks: I always get the wine, and its delicious. A little pricey in my opinion, but its Wicker Park. So go figure. I wanna say I usually pay about $11 per glass. I do see that they have specials from time to time up on their chalkboard. Ambiance: I have only gone when it is bumping at night. The crowd is cool. Everyone is chill and ready to sway with a drink in hand. I know it will be a god time whenever I go. The space is small with only a few chairs and maybe three booths. So get ready to stand if its one of their nights with a DJ Service: They are quick and dont mind answering a question even when there is a line at the bar. I always appreciate that. Price: There is never a cover. They have specials on their board for food and drinks. The wine is a little more than Id like to pay, but its good. If you are down in Wicker Park. Go support their business and check them out. To me they come off as good people, trying to have some good things happening in that hood.
(4)
Lamar S.

Went here on a Mid Sunday afternoon for an impromptu brunch with my little brother. It was later in the day so the wait was not long. The place is small and the noise level was high but it is to be expected for a brunch place in Chicago. The service was great. We got bottomless mimosas and omelets, both of which tasted great! We never had to search for our waitress, she was always ready to help serve us. The prices were not expensive at all. My suggestion is come close to the time they are closing or you might have to wait a while. Overall, it was a great brunch experience for us amateur brunch folk.
(5)
Anna M.

This is hands down my favorite bar in Chicago to eat, drink, and dance in, and I've spent my entire underage and adult life getting schwastey in establishments in this city. I've been coming here for about a year now, and I am never disappointed. The food is amazing (and half price on Tuesdays!), from the salad to the mac & kraut, to the Juicy Lucy. The music is eclectic, with djs most evenings playing whatever they desire and bringing their assortment of friends to stack the bar. Both of these qualities alone are enough to ensure my continuous patronage, but what seriously sets Lokal apart from the rest of the bars in this area is the staff. Yes, it gets super crowded, the music is pretty loud, and sometimes you have to wait a little longer for service. It's a bar in Wicker Park, people. If it's not busy it probably sucks. The staff has always been quick to accommodate, from beer and drink recommendations to kitchen hour extensions. They always handle me and my annoying friends efficiently, with a smile and a stiff drinks. They change the channel if you want to watch a sports event and it's relatively reasonable. They are so nice, from the barback to the bartender to the owner, that it is almost ridiculous. They always remember my boyfriend and I when we go in, and it is always a pleasure. Eric, Jack, Dev, and fabulous beautiful waitress whose name is escaping me right now, thank you so much for your amazing customer service. To the owner thank you for your fancy, delicious Polish food and Å»ubrÃ³wka!!
(5)
Jennifer C.

Came here for brunch with my bf on a day that Bongo Room had an hour& fifteen minute wait time. It was packed but we were seated at the bar in 3 minutes. We were mildly hungover so we opted not to drink. My bf ordered the pork belly with sunny side up eggs and home fries. I got the potato pancakes with poached eggs, accompanied by with spicy aoli and tartar sauce. The potato pancakes were spicy and crispy with bits of leeks embedded in it. We ate mostly in silence as it was so good. The one thing he felt that could be improved were the home fries which were more on the processed hormel fry texture side (as opposed to made from real potatoes with skin). The servers were attentive and told us we could hail them anytime. I have to admit the inside was kind of stuffy in the deep summer weather, but that's probably nothing one of their $10 bottomless Bloody Mary can't fix. I'm super surprised my potato pancakes and eggs came to $9 and the coffee was free. Pretty cool.
(5)
M D.

It's been two days and I literally have not gone more than a few hours without thinking back to the Duck Benedict at brunch. And the fries. And the fried nutella banana thing with strawberries. And the beet salad. Ok, just take my money.
(5)
Amanda M.

I come here most Tuesday's when the entire dinner menu is half off. You can't go wrong with the food. It's delicious. The bartenders are also your waiter. They get super slammed sometimes, but they stay composed and friendly... So don't be mean. I've never had an error from the kitchen. Never had an error from the Bar. Highly recommend this place!!!
(5)
Thu D.

I came here with a bunch of girlfriends for my birthday brunch and thought that it was a pretty good experience. We all ordered the bottomless mimoas and bloody marys, which were good. However, they do enforce that you have food left on your plate if you still want to drink, so make sure you eat slowly! I ordered the pork belly & eggs, which was really delicious and flavorful. Overall, Lokal is a good bottomless brunch place with a varied menu that will please everyone.
(3)
Angie K.

To answer a previous reviewer's question on why this place is called Lokal, Lokal in Polish means establishment. Lokal serves some Polish-inspired dishes, so it doesn't take a brain surgeon to put 1 and 1 together. Anywho.. I've been to Lokal a LOT for brunch (bottomless mimosas are my BFF) and once for dinner. It's not my favorite dinner spot but it's decent brunch food. Things to order with your 'mosas: -Bella Omlet -Potato Pancake -Nutella Frites -More Mimosas! Every time I've gone, it's been after 12:30p and the wait has never been more than 10 minutes, even with a group of 6. I haven't been back since last summer (mimosa bellies aren't the cutest) but with the other 20 brunch spots in the hood, i don't think this place should get too crazy packed. The service is on point and they attend to you as quickly as they can and keep your glass filled every chance they get. The walls are decorated with funky art work, ranging from vinyl records to chalk drawings in the bathroom. Typical Wicker Park ish. I've heard that during the week they have pierogi night specials and even a dj on other nights. I've never had a bad time and recommend everyone to check it out (esp brunch IMO) if you haven't had a chance yet. It's been too long since i've been back to Lokal, i think i know where I'm going next week!
(4)
Yen L.

Decent neighborhood brunch option, and really nice that they have bottomless mimosas, but unfortunately the food is just not that good. They actually do way better on things like fries w/ aioli than the entrees. Service was great though, they were very accommodating, timely, and sweet. One thing is for sure, don't get the steak and eggs. Downright terrible.
(3)
Ronald P.

Went to LoKal today for brunch and had an awesome time! Peter, the owner, made sure we were good to go even though the place had a line out of the door. I had the breakfast sandwich and the special Bloody Mary, both of which were delicious. They have a good thing going and are busy so get your reservation. You'll enjoy yourselves!
(5)
Ashley M.

Christina is our waitress name and is as usual amazing! Super attentive and some how makes times for our table with the craziness that takes over lokal! We love her
(5)
Adam P.

Visiting friends in Chicago for the weekend and they had never tried this place so we went. Luckily, they knew for brunch to arrive before 11 since places start filling up. Got the Nutella Fires (that's what it's actually called; banana, Nutella and berry French toast) and it was absolutely amazing. Got an omelette and the hash browns and very much enjoyed it. The mimosas were strong and service was great.
(4)
Liz T.

This place gets an F for FABULOUS--the feel, the friendly-friendly service, and the food are what I like to call quadruple-F-worthy. I came here recently for my cousin's bachelorette party dinner and we had a really great time. First of all, it was Wicker Park fest, and none of the restaurants were taking reservations. Not only did Lokal take our reservations, but they were ready for us in every way possible. I had the tuna steak burger with a garlic aioli. The tuna steak was potentially the best-cooked tuna steak I've ever had--melt in your mouth goodness. It was paired with a delightful aioli--SUPER strong garlic, strong aioli, strong combo. The french fries are hand cut and extremely fresh. What I really love about this place, though, is all about the vibe. This place has some of the friendliest wait staff in Wicker Park. I feel like as Wicker has gone further right from hip to yup, some of the establishments have become increasingly snarky. Lokal has stayed cool, genuinely nice, and authentically down to earth--a true local establishment to the homage of our old beloved Wicker Park. To top it all off, the bar gave us all champagne toasts on the house to congratulate our bride to be! Such icing on the cake. Thanks lokal, for being my new local go-to!!
(4)
Loretta P.

I'm a fan! Why, you ask? In a word: Truffle fries Ok, that was two words, but they were great nonetheless! No matter what else I've ordered, I always have to get the Truffle Fries as well. They're perfectly thin, hand-cut, crisp, sea salt-y, white truffle awesomeness! Also worth noting--and ordering: Gunthrop Duck Leg Confit w/cherry and anise Prairie Pork Tenderloin Angus NY Strip Steak Pierogi
(4)
Kathryn F.

I have to say that I was quite disappointed by my experience at Lokal. Positives first- 1. Great vibe. The atmosphere was inviting and the hostess was very welcoming 2. My chicken sandwich and French fries were great Now the negatives- 1. The bloody Mary's were watered down and not very good. 2. My boyfriend ordered the steak (medium) and eggs and couldn't eat the steak because it was so chewy and overdone. 3. Our waitress was rushed and rude. She asked us how are food was and walked away before we even had a chance to respond. Also- I tried to ask her a question about the menu and she rolled her eyes as if I was greatly inconveniencing her. 3. My water glass was empty for our entire meal and it took me flagging down another table's waitress after I already finished my sandwich to get more. I don't know if I will come back. Maybe the experience would be better with a different waitress or for dinner instead of brunch?
(2)
Jessica M.

Great specials that change daily and wonderful service! I'll definitely be going back soon for $5 glasses of wine
(4)
Antonio M.

Great spot for Sunday Funday! Bottomless mimosas and excellent food! Our server, Christina aka "Tina Turn-up" was awesome and very efficient. Sidebar: Mushroom is spelled wrong on the menu ;)
(5)
Ron L.

The brunch here was amazing. I always love eating brunches at different places. They have endless mimosas. However after you're done with your food the endless ends. That was disappointing. If I would have known that I would have ate my food slower.
(3)
Darien M.

Came in for brunch; the place was a little dark and busy. Got seated quickly at the bar (which was a bit dirty) and nothing else...literally. No menu brought, no water, nothing. Sat for 10 mins reading yelp reviews and seeing everything I read (sloppy clothes, bad service, mediocre looking food) in person. Bartender finally walks my way to start taking to the girl behind me....I gave up and went to the bongo room. Trust the reviews lol
(1)
Eliza E.

I really don't know what to make of this place. The servers were very friendly and nice, although it seemed they had some staffing issues given that the servers were also bussing tables, seating people, and making drinks. Too many roles for any one person to get it all right. That said, we got some really terrible bloody Mary's (I sent mine back and the server was nice enough to give me a free mimosa). The food came out at all different times, and on average, it was quite good but there were some mistakes with the order (more free booze was offered to make up for the mistakes). Glasses were dirty and there was a wet rag sitting on a bar stool, among other little things that just made me feel like I don't want to know what happens in the kitchen. It seems like it's very easy to get drunk here. Strong drinks coupled with the fact that the plentiful mistakes are made up for with free drinks.
(2)
Katy M.

Looked up "bottomless mimosa" brunch in the area and came across this place, so I made a reservation. I arrived fifteen minutes prior to the reservation and the place was packed. Service appeared to be very disorganized. One staff member was seating people and bussing tables. The staff showed very little sign of teamwork or urgency to get the customers seated. Instead, they were taking shots and dancing. All of the walk-ins ahead of us got seated before we did, even though we had a reservation. In fact, we were seated twenty-five minutes AFTER the time of our reservation. Once we were finally seated, we found out that they didn't have any more orange juice. We were given options of pineapple juice or cranberry. Yuck. Food was alright and came out quickly. About 45 minutes after we had been seated and on our second round of mimosas, we were told that the restaurant was closing and they couldn't serve us any more drinks. Throughout all of this, no apology. No nothing. Advice to management: put the customers first, be sure to check your spelling in your reservation confirmation, honor reservations first, order more orange juice ahead of time for the weekends, and have your staff run to the nearest walgreens and get more OJ if you run out.
(1)
Melissah L.

Eh. I came here for a post-birthday celebration brunch with a bunch of friends and received awful service. I won't be back. The food was pretty good- I'll give Lokal that. I ordered the Lokal sandwich and enjoyed it, but our waiter was incredibly rude and unattentive. We had to ask for EVERYTHING- they didn't bring enough water glasses, could not provide a spoon to stir creamer into our coffees (they didn't have any?) and brought out our plates before there was any silverware on the table (and then took another 5 minutes to bring eating utensils out). The check came in the middle of our meal (the waiter said it's because they were "really busy") and then another staff member spent the rest of our meal rushing us out. It was horrible Hopefully they just were having a off morning, but I wouldn't risk such a terrible experience again!
(1)
Thomas T.

This is a brunch review so skip me if it's not applicable. Came here on a Saturday for lunch because people wanted to the the bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. As i'll get to at the end, that turned out to be a pointless idea. First walked in and it was pretty full. They need your whole party before they seat you but luckily there was one open right when we walked in. Our waiter was great, he was always smiling and just seemed like a really happy guy. Down to the food now. I got the Leeks Bacon Cheddar Scramble. it was all right, nothing special. Pretty much just bacon mixed in with scrambled eggs. The roasted potatoes came out cold but that might just be how they serve them. They had really good flavor though, and they were pretty spicy. The gf got the scallops benedict and said those were pretty good. I tried a scallop and it wasn't too bad. So people at my table ordered the bottomless drinks as i mentioned, yet 1 person had 1.5 mimosas and a different person had 1 bloody mary.... So as you can see, it wasn't all that good of a deal considering other brunch places had mimosas or bloody marys for about $3 each. But yeah, anyway, those were $7 and $10 respectively which is like going out at night prices, but whatever, i was fine with my free water.
(3)
Andi R.

The mimosas were GREAT perfect champs to oj ratio. Food was great service was terrible but through no fault of our actual server--it's clear that Sunday's are a cluster f. No hostess, you just stand there awkwardly while everyone avoids eye contact with you to avoid helping you. Don't trust your reservation it means nothing. Obviously poorly managed and has no leadership. SUPER loud and very crowded and small. Definitely looking elsewhere for a brunch spot.
(3)
Michael C.

So much potential but crappy service leads to a medicore review. Had the bacon and leeks omelet, a bit on the small side but tasty. My favorite part about the meal was the potatoes which were crispy, salty, and packed a nice amount of heat. Salad is not always something I'm craving when I get brunch dishes, but I felt that the side salad the dish came with was refreshing and kept the meal balanced. The service here was particularly shoddy: the waiter did not refill our waters, brought us utensils after our food came out, and left our check on the table midway through our meal. Every five minutes my friend said in my ear, "this is the worst service ever. I should leave a 10% tip." Maybe it is best for customers to check out Lokal when it is less busy, or if they get the bottomless mimosas and get inebriated enough to not notice the inconsistencies in service.
(3)
Jennifer S.

VERY loud and no a/c. We ordered a blt and tuna salad. Order took about 40 minutes. Tuna was well done and salad was VERY small, especially for $14. Blt was average- though was mainly bread. Fries were under done. Will not be back
(2)
Andrew A.

Food was great, music was awesome, service was good. But I had the host and our server "kindly" ask us to leave 2x, within 5 minutes of eachother. We were only there for an hour? My group felt rushed and it was pretty rude of the restaurant to do this. I would have left 5 stars but not after that happened.
(3)
Tavi J.

I started going to Lokal to see my friend DJ his event (Organic) the last Saturday of every month. It's a cute little spot, but I kept getting there after their kitchen is closed. I got the bright idea to go during normal brunch/dinner hours...and I'm glad I did! My first time eating there was with a Groupon for four people. We went for dinner and it was really good. I enjoyed my mushroom pasta. Other items that I tried and liked were the truffle fries, Grilled Chicken Breast sandwich, NY Strip Steak. I have been here once for their bottomless brunch and the Lokal Sandwich is tasty. The bartender they have at night is also great. He's usually by himself, but he's really fast. Last observation that has nothing to do with anything, but they show some weird things on the tv screens at night. A lot of discovery channel and weird animation type stuff that always cracks me up. Or...maybe it's just me and I'm a little out of it by that point.
(4)
Kristina K.

Where do I start? I was seated at the bar with one individual. My friend ordered food but I did not- we both ordered bottomless mimosas. This was not questioned. About 20 minutes later, this angry polish woman behind the bar proceeded to scream at me that "by law, I needed to order an ENTREE otherwise she cannot LEGALLY serve me bottomless mimosas"... I told her to calm down and that I was not told this when i orderd, I've never been to this establishment and did not realize this was the RESTAURANT'S policy (obviously this is not a law.) I ordered a salad. It was mediocre. When my buddy was done with his salad, they took his plate and refused to serve him any more mimosas. You literally needed to have the food in front of you to continue drinking. I put some of my food on a side plate so that they would shut up because that was completely ridiculous. Afterwards, he ordered another salad out of spite. After 35 minutes, the same angry polish lady came back over and asked how we would like our bill. I calmly stated that we were NOT done, and she laughed and said "Oh, are you staying here forever?" ... At one point, my friend went to use the restroom and they took his chair and placed it at a table. Obviously, it was the angry polish woman who took it and I asked if she really just took his seat? She pretended like it was a mistake and returned the chair. This place is a complete joke. Do NOT advertise bottomless mimosas and then try to bully people out of your crappy establishment in 30 minutes. I will NEVER, EVER return to this craphole restaurant. Whoever that lady was, owner or manager, needs to learn how to treat patrons otherwise she will be out of business very quickly. On the upside- the servers were great and sympathetic.
(1)
Christoph B.

Really solid brunch spot. Parking is a pain, but great option if you take the L or live in the WP area. Bottomless mimosas are a good deal. Will be back for another round hopefully soon.
(4)
Lena H.

First I knew the bottomless mimosas would earn 2.5 stars. But I was surprised to enjoy my food as well. Yes, I got a simple BLT, but it was artfully constructed and the jalapeÃ±o mayo was to die for and my fries were well seasoned. On top of that, service was great! I sat at the bar. Everyone was awesome and Christina is the best FYI!
(4)
John G.

Came here for a medical school function/mixer where we had half the side for us to mingle. Have to say...not bad...not bad at all. I was sure to walk around the whole spot to see what the typical crowd is and there were some nice looking women here (the main reason us fellas go to these kind of places for the most part right?). Everyone is dressed well and the interior design is nicely carried out. A Few Booth seating was available for us with tables and also some stool seating accompanied with respective small bars for each. Spaced out enough to relax and converse or dance based on your mood. I like having options so that sits well with me. Music had good range from house to commercial rap. The negative is the drinks being over priced. I believe it was 12 for johnnie walker black label....little on the upside since I've to places just as or even nicer and cheaper. Sadly we had a "special" going for our mixer since we booked the place but it was a sad selection of only beer and kiddy shots not much of deal for a gentlemen. I'd go back to a 2nd time if my buddies brought it up but I probably wouldn't go out of my way to suggest it personally. If you do go I think you'll be content enough.
(3)
Hannah C.

Be aware, they no longer accept Groupon and would not even honor the cost or Groupon. Decent food and service though
(3)
Brittany C.

Hands down-- this is one of my favorite brunch spots! I've never has a bad meal. The ahi tuna burger is my favorite! The bottomless mimosas are a staple and the service is excellent! Looking forward to bringing my coworkers who are new to Chicago this weekend. Tips: -If you aren't a drinker -- don't order bottomless -If you're with a LARGE crowd, you may have to wait to have your seating accommodated
(5)
Will S.

If u like to be captivated by great live jazz for ZERO cover and don't mind drinkin a cheep beer I couldn't think of a better spot to spend my Monday nights. - true lover of great music
(5)
Zakia C.

I really, really, really, should be giving LOKAL a five star rating! I mean my brunch experience was by far one of the best in the city! C'mon, Unlimited mimosas, good service, and to top all of that off with great food, who could ask for more?!? Raphael, our server, knew the Menu backwards & his suggestions did fail us by any means! So, I don't want to jinx myself with a five star rating, until I've visited twice!!! (I've been down that road before!) Now on to the Food, as many of you know my Boyfriend & I, like to think of ourselves as the "Connoisseurs of French Toast"... LOL Seriously, we love a good burger, & I adore phenomenal sushi, BUT, if you have French Toast we will almost always have to put it to our test. I'm serious we have a running log of the best tasting French toast in the city! (I'll be happy to share, but only if you're serious. ) In order for your French toast to go into our category of 'must tries', It has to have originality, a good bread to egg ratio, a great taste, be aesthetically pleasing, & has to be able to stand alone (no syrup to drown out the taste). Well let's just say, LOKAL did not take over our #1 French Toast spot, but, it emerged its way into our Top 3! It was so good!! It is made with fresh fruit, a light and fluffy whipped cream topping, You know what, I'll just stop there! I won't bore you with my description, I'll just say, GO!!! Experience it for yourself & don't forget a side of red skin potatoes! Key CALL OUT: Unlimited Mimosas or Bloody Mary's are cut off as soon as you're finished with your food!
(4)
Ty W.

While visiting Chicago, one of my friends suggested we do brunch at Lokal. I love a good brunch and was super excited to experience a new spot. We made a reservation for eight. Accommodating our large group was no problem, and I loved that! I've seen better brunch menus and I've had better experiences. At least three people at our table received the wrong order, we had to constantly ask for refills on our mimosas, and handling the check was a hassle. I know that most restaurants in Chicago only give a table one check. At Lokal, you can only use three credit cards to pay for a check. It would be easier if they could split the bill up by seat. I think the large group made things confusing. Also, one person didn't receive his food when the rest of the table did and when it did come out, it was incorrect. The waitress only offered to take 10% off of his check. That should have been comped.
(2)
Natalie K.

I wouldn't come here for brunch. To be fair, we didn't even stick around long enough to be seated at a table, but that also tells you how turned off I was by this place. I've been here late night and it was fun, but they don't seem to adapt well for the brunch crowd. The music was clubby and that's just not what you need on a Sunday morning. Since we couldn't be seated until our whole party was present, we sat at the bar hoping to get a drink while we waited. I was ignored for about ten minutes until someone finally asked me if I needed something (I even stuck my arm out holding my credit card to indicate I wanted to order. It seemed like the bartenders were even doing it on purpose. I made eye contact with one and she literally turned and walked away. Terrible.). Anyway, since they said that the bottomless brunch only applies once you have a table, I ordered a beer to just put myself in a better mood. It was fine but nothing special. Finally, my friends and I all looked at each other and realized we were miserable, so I paid for my beer and we left to find a different place to eat. I can't comment on the food, but the service and atmosphere were just awful. I imagine if you got here right at open and had your whole party there it might go a little smoother, and the bottomless mimosas might make you get into the loud music, but overall I would never recommend anyone come here for brunch unless they were still drunk from the night before.
(1)
Molly S.

I've gone to Lokal twice now for brunch and loved it both times. I've ordered the chicken sandwich and the watercress portabella omelette and loved them both. My boyfriend had the ahi tuna burger and the French toast and he highly recommends them. My only complaint is that the restaurant is really loud. It would make sense on a Friday or Saturday night but it just feels wrong to have such a loud atmosphere during a Sunday brunch. Overall, this place is great!
(4)
Akos S.

Great atmosphere and feel. Terrible service. The bartender was more interested in having shots ( by himself) then getting our order, telling us about the drink specials and/or providing a food menu. Had one drink finally and left. Wont be going back.
(3)
Connor B.

First Impression Reservation for seven on a Saturday morning for brunch. Host walks us to our table - shape of table: 4 stars; cutlery - 0.5 stars. Table was a barren wasteland - had no silverware, napkins, or salt/pepper until we asked two times upon which we were handed a pile of forks and three napkins. Food Food was great. Bloody Mary's were off the mark - my friend never brushes her teeth and she had to after this meal. An older polish woman (apparently the expeditor) repeatedly comes by pushing us to finish our food. Finally got our bill and sat for 20 minutes with a stack of credit cards for the waitress to return. We asked to split it among three credit cards and she said she was busy with other tables so that we needed to write the exact amount per card on the bill. Math is tough. Automatic Gratuity We asked to talk to the manager about the 20% automatic gratuity added to the bill that was not on the menu. A disgruntled, rude man in a white t shirt appears from the kitchen. He and our waitress tell me that this is the "standard in Chicago" although it's not on the menu. I respond that we were not happy with parts of our service, particularly the lack of silverware/napkins when we sat down and ordered our food, and the long wait once we got our bill. I told him I think silverware is a standard in Chicago too. Manager tells me that we as customers could have done something better to improve the service. What? The waitress comes back to the table and says the automatic gratuity is a Chicago law. What? Appendix Lastly, need to check out Merriam-Webster. Menu highlights include "antrees", "chese", and "mushrroms." I think they misspelled Local too.
(1)
Stephanie F.

Just okay. No one loved their food... they messed up one of our orders and all the fries were overdone. The Bloody Marys were heavy on the mix and light on the booze.
(3)
Cynthia C.

Went there tonight, we were seated promptly, however we then waited at least 20 minutes and no server ever approached the table. The server did show attention to the table next to us that seated 8. So we got up and left. As I approached the door, I told the hostess that we were leaving because we didn't receive any service and her response was, "ok, no problem, sorry about that." Will not be returning!
(1)
Cory G.

Made reservation for 8 ppl at 1 pm on a Sunday. Got there and it was packed and other groups waiting with us (all had reservations). There was no cleared tables and we waited 45 mins then decided to go next door to the Southern where we were able to get a great table and had a fantastic meal. Lokal is unorganized and overrated, don't make a reservation because they don't honor them.
(1)
Christina M.

I'm really disappointed with this place. I was calling to book a brunch for my besties birthday for about 14 people, I spoke to a man who had little to no information and said the "brunch manager" would call me. I still haven't received a call. I can't believe it. I had to completely change everything. I called three times today and it was busy. So disappointed.
(2)
Duncan L.

Fantastic brunch, and the bottomless mimosas hit the spot for the group. The duck confit benedict was good, though I wish the eggs were slightly more runny (other benedicts at the table had the same issue). The service was attentive yet let us enjoy a long brunch. I would absolutely to again. Plus, 50% off menu items on Tuesday? That sounds like a win.
(4)
Rachel H.

All I have to say about this place is... $10 MUSSELS AND TRUFFLE FRIES ON FRIDAY NIGHTS!!! It was delicious, and too much for me to finish, which is something I almost never say. I also happened to think the two bartenders/waiters (Jack and another guy whose name I didn't catch) seemed genuinely friendly and concerned with keeping their patrons happy... although it is possible that as a Brooklynite I'm just not used to these Midwestern niceties. If I lived in the area, this place would be a permanent fixture in my life.
(5)
Char Y.

We ordered a bunch of "bites" on the second round, and they were seared scallops - good duck pierogi - very good mussles - ok crab cakes - good I am still impressed by their appetizers, and will come back for third.
(4)
Alison T.

YUM! I was not expecting much based on the reviews, but I need to give this place some credit! It really is upscale amazing food that you pay a fortune for downtown, minus the downtown prices and snootiness. We share the tuna tartare (best I've had), then had the summer kraut ribs and fish of the day, which was arctic char. Both dinners were AMAZING. The fish was prepared perfectly and the ribs literally fell off the bone. Prices are reasonable (and even more so because we had the Bloomspot deal). We will definitely be back.
(5)
Jennifer M.

So..not too loco for LOKal. Heaps of credit to Polish/Euro fare hoppin on the trend wagon, BUT it really missed the mark with service. It was a gorgeous Thursday night and LOKal was empty--a refuge from the mosh pit of frat kids everywhere else. My friend and I practically did cartwheels through the door with high hopes of stellar service, grown-up cocktails, and kraut laced edibles. After settling for bar seats, things got weird. The bartender did not acknowledge us. She proceeded to straighten stemware for 5-10 minutes before disappearing. Gone. Poof. We should've been on round 2. When she did finally notice us (again, only folks in the place), we ordered quickly---glass of wine, martini, cabbage cakes, apple fennel soup and beet soup. The food was 'good', but not spectacular. Bottom line--the soup trumped the cabbage cakes, cocktails trumped the soup and the poor service trumped all....and the frat pit was starting to look pretty fun.
(3)
Renee F.

LOKAL is DELICIOUS! I first found out about LOKAL from Groupon, and have since frequented it many times! It's a wonderful place for anything from a girls night to a date night, to a foodie adventure. The pork belly appetizer is absolutely delicious, and the steaks are always perfectly cooked. Not only is the food delcious, but everytime I visit Lokal, the server recommends a wine to the table and I am always pleased with the recommendation. The best part of Lokal is the dessert. Every night they have a different dessert, but if you ask very nicely, sometimes the chef will make you a special treat. My friends and I call it the Whipped Nutella Amazingness. It is EXACTLY how is sounds. If you see a groupon for this, snag it, and then come back and visit any night during the week. They always have great food, and if you like a deal, they have wonderful daily specials.
(5)
Jillian M.

Went there for brunch and bottomless mimosas. The staff is very nice/helpful and the food was amazing (try the mushroom, spinach, and goat cheese omelette). I can definitely say my bottomless mimosa was never even close to being empty. My friends and I will be coming back here for sure.
(4)
Nick B.

Wow! I have to come out right away saying how awesome LOKal was for lunch! My brother was in town visiting and I've heard great things about LOKal for awhile. $7 bottomless mimosas also has an allure to it. I came by over the weekend and was a little nervous because I thought I'd be waiting in a line. No line, decent crowd, and were were quickly seated by the window. First, the location is just awesome to stare at. The modern furniture, twisted paintings, and exposed brick made me feel like I was in the right place at the right time. Our waitress was extremely attentive the entire time. The three of us ordered the mimosas and our waitress continually refilled without hesitation all morning. I went ahead with the potato pancakes (it's the Polish in me!). They tasted great! They came with caramelized onions, scrambled eggs, and tomatoes. Great portioning and very tasty. I really can't find a complaint about LOKal. I will definetly come back and it has the highest recommendation. Check. It. OUT.
(5)
Happiness L.

A great place....food was so very delicious...pork belly appetizer, entrees were duck and lamb. It was some of the best duck I ever had. It would be better to have more dessert choices. The place is VERY loud....so not great for deep conversation. Try to get Eric's table.
(4)
Phil F.

I have been here for brunch for the past two weekends and I really enjoy it! The place has some really sexy Polish girls as waitresses too. Really good food. The Lokal sandwich is awesome! I love that Polish Sausage is an option, aside from the normal breakfast sausage.....way more delish. And the bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys make it perfect. And they are definitely generous with the refills. I walk out of there feeling pretty amazing ;) Cant wait to go back more and more!
(4)
Bobby G.

Honestly, I'm only writing this review so Yelp will stop recommending that I write a review for Lokal. Otherwise, I barely remember being there. Which is a classy way to say it's got a decent bar.
(3)
Keely B.

We went back a few weeks later for all-you-can-eat pierogies. We brought friends. There were multiple weeks in advance plans. We arrived and were told, "Oh, they stopped doing that last week." It was still on their website. Gah!
(2)
Dory O.

We went for dinner on a Thursday night and they had $5 glasses of wine. This made me very happy! I had the Zapi sandwich with sausage and my fiance had the steak sandwich; both came with fries and both were DELICIOUS! I will definitely be back!
(4)
Brian D.

Really great scallops! Awesome wines that you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The owners are really friendly too! Oh and the pierogi's are awesome!
(5)
Jason H.

Bottomless Mimosas & Bloody Mary's are definitely what they say. The staff is always filling you up, haha. Besides that the food is beautiful, unique & delicious, we go the nutella french toast which was a perfect morning filler. good times, we'll be back.
(4)
Mandy P.

Me gusta Lokal! No me gusta Godzilla! Sorry; I digress. Lokal serves up a brilliant brunch. I had a difficult time settling on just one option for my meal; everything looked like it would make me happy. I settled on building my own omelet, which ended up being a great choice. It wasn't too greasy and the potatoes that accompanied it were flavored perfectly. A $7 bottomless mimosa deal made my day (as well as made me a little less productive for the remainder of it).
(4)
Michelle G.

I've gone to LOKal for brunch the past two Saturdays in a row. Why? Well lemme tell you. Bottomless bloody marys and mimosas for $7. Free soup when you order anything (I didn't get any last week because it had bacon in it, but I think it was well-received by my co-brunchers). The blueberry lavender blinztes. The home fries. The fantastic omelet ingredients. The waffle. They seemed a little overwhelmed when we came in last week with a table of 12 (as opposed to our table of 2 the first time, but we clearly did a good job of wrangling a crowd for the second go) but with one more waiter on the clock they would have been totally fine. I have yet to do anything but brunch here, but I'm looking forward to it. Both of my visits so far have been a complete blast (and would have been even without all that morning booze). Tip: Get the bloody mary spicy.
(4)
Maximilien V.

Went here today for brunch. The highlight of our experience there was our server whom professed some kind of poetic thankfulness for love and peace or something when he greeted us, I couldn't really make out most of what he was saying because the music was playing and the place was mostly full and the entirety of the construction that makes up Lokal is concrete, exposed brick, or hard wood, which makes things loud, but I could tell he was funny. The bottomless $7 mimosa consisted of (we watched the bartender make them) %50-%70 OJ and the rest Andre sparkling wine. Bleh. We ordered the potato pancakes, smoked salmon blinis, tomato bisque, and blueberry blintzes. We were really excited. We waited for well over thirty minutes for our food. Service seemed to slow down greatly. It took a very long time for our server to get back to us with anything including the check when we were in a hurry. Then we tried the food. The potato pancakes were VERY dry. So dry I was super douchy and poured some of the tomato bisque on them to moisten them up a little. They were grated too coarsely and had a lot of onion in them to begin with, not to mention the fact they were served with onion marmalade, wayy to much onion. The smoked salmon tasted and felt like it had been left out for a long period of time. It was kind of rough on the outside and rubbery and the blinis were dry and fairly unappealing. The blintzes were ok flavor wise, but definitely needed some salt and less baking soda/powder, as well as a little more whipped cream. There was a small dollop on top. Aside from the friendly service and appearance there was nothing appealing about this place. I really hope it's better for dinner or that they improve the food here. Wicker park desperately needs a new restaurant with great food.
(2)
Jenny M.

Kind of a weird experience. The food was pretty good. Appetizers (Pork Belly and Mussels) I could have skipped. Pork Belly was dry, mussels were shriveled up and all I could taste was the bacon. The scallop pasta and the polenta were fantastic. The weirdest part was the waiter. He was paying zero attention to us when we needed something (drinks, an order taken, a bill). When he did come over he made really awkward conversation. Kept apologizing about how he wasn't attending to us and then continued not to attend to us. He would then try and chat about something and make really awkward comments that neither myself or my friend knew how to respond to. The last weird part was the art...OH MY GOD! It was disturbing. I typically love art, and can appreciate a lot of it. This was all about death and skeletons and creepy dead soldiers and naked mechanical ladies. Really demented. I could probably have appreciated it in a gallery, not while I am eating my dinner...reminded me of a bad horror movie. Decent enough, but nothing to go back for.
(2)
James Y.

The food was good. the Mussels were awesome. Pork belly was good as well. Service was a bit slow, but very nice.
(3)
L H.

So this is my first Yelp review and I wanted to start with something that I wanted to be worth my time writing and reviewing. So here it goes: LoKal just opened up not too long ago and has already proved to be one of my favorite go to places- to start or end the night. The atmosphere is really simple and classy- with just the right amount of hip appeal. The Polish owners don't try to hard too make friends, yet are warm and inviting and seem like they genuinely care about what they do and what they offer. I found it to be a very sincere hang out spot. The nitty gritty- Bartenders: I popped in for their $4 martini night on a Wednesday with a friend and had probably the best dirty martini I have had in a long time. I have paid as much as $15 for a martini and this blew most out of the water. They were professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. My friend and I were the only ones there at about 10:00 (unfortunately the kitchen had closed) but we chatted with the bartender here and there. It really added to our experience, he was very sweet. The Food: After being so pleased with the first visit, I met up with a few friends for the sunday brunch and..!!!! $7 bottomless Bloody Mary's and Mimosas (I promise I am not an alcoholic but the bartender brought up this special on our previous visit and I had to come see it for myself)- Good morning! For brunch I had the homemade parfait and the blueberry lavender blintz. With a mimosa at hand, this was a perfect combination for a cold sunday morning. I say pop in and see for yourself. Do your liver a little bad and your taste buds a little good- It won't take long for people to pick up a great place with the whole package in the heart of Wicker Park. This is a place is a gem.
(5)
Martha D.

I do feel bad for bringing down LOKal's 4 1/2 star rating, but I have to let you all know how disappointing my experience was. Reason for attending: a friend's birthday dinner. Issues: The restaurant was freezing - so cold that most of us didn't take off our coats. The service took FOR-EV-ER even though there were hardly any other customers. The food was terrible on many levels. The birthday girl ordered the Skate wing (which was on the menu). 30 minutes then passed before we were told that the kitchen was out of this dish. The recommended Halibut was a combo of rubbery fish served over a bunch of unappetizing balls of black pasta and came out a good 5 minutes after the rest of our dishes were served. My dinner consisted of bright pink, scalding hot beet puree soup with a tasteless croquette; and a mound of sundried tomato risotto. The risotto looked just like a rice crispy treat and while the first couple of bites weren't that bad, this stuff is way too rich and should not be a stand-alone dish. Now, I don't just go throwing one star reviews around, so I want to explain what else lead me to this decision... Mustard butter is gross. Butternut squash soup: the chef went way overboard on the brown sugar. Arugula salad was missing goat cheese. The frites are not like French fries. They are just like those greasy stringy breakfast potatoes you see at truck stop diners. No toilet paper in the girl's bathroom. All of that said, the waitress was nice, but should have offered some sort of discount due to the skate wing incident. This would have moved my review to 2 stars.
(1)
Jeanus T.

Must try the Netella frites here, really good! And they serve Lavazza coffee which is very good as well. I had the pot belly and eggs with roasted potatoes, delicious!! Would definitely go back. Oh, $7 bottomless mimosa on Sundays, can't beat that!
(4)
Lauren W.

The service at LOKal was great, I just wish I'd ordered something different. I had the duck confit and while the anise apple sauce was killer, nothing else really was. The roasted tomatoes on top of the duck were chilled and I didn't like that, either! Warning: I thought unlimited brunch boozing was $7, but it showed up as $9 on my bill. My bloody marys were still worth it-each with a slice of lime, slice of lemon, celery stick, two huge olives and extra pepper on top! After reading other reviews, I'd say brunch on the nutella frites or french toast because the duck is a bit overdone.
(3)
Melody C.

My first visit to Wicker Park as an outsider to Chicago. I see it as a much larger and better version of DC's Adam's Morgan. It was a nice sunny day as I walked down the street looking for a place to chow down. of the many attractive places to settle down for a late morning/early afternoon sunday brunch, we chose Lokal. it's a nice classy place with $7 bottomless bloody marys and mimosas apparently, i guess that attracts your average alcoholic bruncher recovering from st. patrick's day. but i come for the food and what i ordered was bad. the blueberry delish: a lavendar "blintz", which turned out to just be a thin crepe with runny watery frozen berry blend on top. a blintz in my mind conjures a fluffier version of a crepe stuffed with creamy light ricotta cheese topped with cherry glaze, sour cream or apple sauce. but this "blintz" was just a soggy crepe with purple water on top. i also took a look around at what else people were ordering. my bf wanted to order the Lokal Sandwich, and since he almost always orders way better than i do, i momentarily hesitated to make comments, but ultimately was glad i did because i noticed that the sandwich was all bread and not much else in between. many of the diners ordered it but i noticed one lady had torn off all of the excess bread and by the time she was finished with her meal, her plate was full of large chunks of bread. that sucks. what he did order instead was the only excellent thing here (well, the coffee was good, but that's not hard to get right), which was the Watercress Portabella Goatcheese with roasted potatoes. The potatoes, i don't know how/what they roasted them with, but they were really good - not your average roasted red skinned potatoes. they had some sort of light golden-orange yummy batter, like the ones that coat curly fries. and the watercress omelet was delicate, and really really top notch. not too much egg, watercress was not watery, and the portabella chunks were tasty, almost like i was tasting ham, and the goat cheese is really what gave it a nice kick. i didn't have to eat it with ketchup, which is how i know i'm eating a really good omelet. on to environment/ambiance. because it was a sunny day, we walked in and requested a window seat, since what was supposed to be the main room of the cafe on the inside looked dark and cold. they told us the seats by the window were reserved and seated us inside. it felt as dark and cold as it looked and what's more, the two bathrooms were awkwardly located right behind the seats in the main room, so that everybody in the room had an astonishing view of whoever walked in or out, or accidentally got walked-in on. they did eventually find an open table and moved us over to the sunny side, but not before we waited 15 min to order because the server was having his own meal and forgot to give us a menu after he sat us down.
(2)
Jason M.

Lokal opened at 3:00 in the afternoon on Hallowe'en. That alone should tell you that the owners and workers are pretty confident in their restaurant and bar. And you know what? They're right. Lokal is very good. You should check it out tonight. The menu is posted on the glass wall by the front door, but it's too dark there to read much of anything. And it's still a work in progress. Inside, the space is clean and cool, with white plastic tables and chairs and poured concrete floors. The wall behind the bar is exposed brick, and light wood accents here and there warm up the space. Overall, think about the space station lounge in Kubrick's 2001 with a slightly-too-loud electronica soundtrack and you've got the vibe of the place. We dropped in on a quiet weeknight and were greeted by the bartender Thomas, who invited us to sit anywhere. He was also the waiter and busboy, and was both knowledgeable and effusive about the menu. The booze menu is fairly priced and offers a wide enough selection for traditional and experimental pairings with the food. And they get bonus points for offering a few beers on tap in addition to bottled selections. Now, the food. A bread basket arrived with cut baguette (uninteresting) and a couple of pieces of baked flatbread (very interesting). Butternut squash soup was good, a little cool, but had a velvety texture and a slow-developing sweetness. The puff pastry wrapped stuffed poblano was very good: densely stuffed with home made sausage (a little spicy and a little salty), bell peppers, and tiny diced potato. Afterward, one of the owners stopped by to chat with us and offer us the brunch menu, which looks like it's worth a try. As is another dinner: prices are reasonable, service (on a slow Monday, anyway) is top notch, and the menu is creative. My only concern is that the bar didn't get as much attention as the restaurant. Liquors are premium brands by way of advertising, which doesn't suggest an emphasis on good mixology. And I was disappointed that no local breweries were supported. Lokal will be a good place for a date, dinner with friends, or an after work drink. They've got a great start, and I'm looking forward to my next visit.
(4)
Jessica G.

A small group of friends and I went to LOKal for brunch this morning. Decent food, though I found my egg white omelet to be a little bit greasy, more so than I would think an egg white omelet should be. The roasted potatoes were really good - just a bit spicy and perfectly roasted. The Nutella frites was also pretty good - not what we expected but it definitely tasted good. Service was pretty good, too. We didn't have any of the issues with the waitress cutting off the bottomless mimosas or otherwise hassling us once we were done. It was not too crowded and at 10:30ish on a Sunday morning, we got parking right in front. The seating in the area we were at was a little weird and off center so that I had one bit of myself not quite on the cushion - not 100% comfortable and maybe a bit too small of a space for 5 people. Otherwise, pretty good.
(4)
Eman S.

As much as I want to keep this place a brunch secret, it is my duty to report how excellent it was. We actually had reservations at Chaise Lounge, but we walked by this place and saw their sign outside that said "Bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys for $7" and just couldn't pass that up. When you walk in, it kind of looks like it is a Euro-trash night club at night (which I actually think is true). We got seated right away and at no point throughout our long brunch was it more than half-full (or half-empty if you are that type of person). The menu was pretty simple, but there were great choices. We both built our own omelets, but had trouble deciding between some other options, but thought that if the food is good, we will come back here often. I got the egg-white omelet with tomato, peppers and sausage and it came with roasted potatoes. It was all delicious. My wife got the herbs, asparagus and some other vegetable I can't remember and she loved it too! To boot, there was free soup today and even that was really good! Our waitress was great! Any time she saw we were out of drink, she got us a refill. If she didn't see it right away, the other waitress or someone who I think was the night DJ got our drinks for us. We wanted to stay longer and enjoy the drink special, so we ordered dessert. I don't know what it was called because the waitress just explained it to us, but it was fried dough, stuffed with Nutella and covered in strawberries, blueberries and powdered sugar. SO good. I have nothing bad to say. Actually, I don't even have anything average to say. Down to the great plates and and silverware you got to use, it was all great! Oh wait, I do have one thing. The bathrooms are interesting. The woman's has a strobe light and the men's a black light. It was kind of weird, but it worked (and no, pee does not glow in the black light). By the way, our bill in the end came to $31 for everything you read.
(4)
Justin B.

Wasnt that impressed...the food was on point but nothing really popped. Then again, all I did order was an omelette lol. My friend ordered was ridiculously good banana nutella french toast though! So I think I just need to go back and try other offerings. One thing that dropped my rating on this place big time : water. Now I know they have bottomless mimosas/bloody marys, but what about my water!? My glass was thoroughly neglected. Worst service ever in terms of drinks...I had to steal my friends water for fear of choking! Step up your game, LoKal.
(2)
Miss O.

I bought a groupon for this place. Always wanted to try it out. I'm glad I did. Bigger portions and bigger taste than I expected.
(3)
Jelonek P.

First place to take a modern twist on Polish food - got to say it's delicious! So far I tried potato pierogi in bourbon and date sauce (never seen pierogi done that way before), chicken kielbasa (a bit spicy and GOOD), and Bizon grass vodka chicken - everything was delicious!!!! Service was great and even got to take a shot with one of the owners (very cool and friendly guy). Nice interior, very nice artwork and VERY COOL yet simple name... LOKAL in Polish is a place where you go out to eat and drink... as I said simple.. however a great idea! Been here for a drink and appetizers with girlfriends and for dinner with my boyfriend and his grandparents.. everybody was amazed by food!
(5)
Amy R.

I've been to Lokal before and the food is great. However, this weekend was not the same. I made a reservation for brunch and when we got there, the place was packed to the brim. When I was finally able to find the hostess to tell her we'd arrived, she did nothing but tell me they were really busy and we'd have to wait a bit. I understand needing to wait, i mean, it is brunch on a Sunday. However after waiting over a half hour, the hostess was nothing by rude and unaccomodating. Needless to say, we left and went somewhere else. I wont be going back to Lokal anytime soon. Also, dont accept a reservation if you can't accomodate it!
(2)
Roxy F.

Definitely exceeded expectations! Casual spot with reasonably-priced food and friendly staff. Burger approved by big time burger lover!
(5)
Courtney C.

The bottomless mimosas were awesome and the food was great. I will definitely be going back soon. Favorite brunch spot!
(5)
Jenny M.

Delicious! My boyfriend and I enjoyed an incredible anniversary dinner here. We were very pleasantly surprised by how tasty and flavorful every single dish was, down to the last drop of our chocolate mousse dessert. We shared the grilled calamari and the truffle fries for appetizers. Both were excellent, but the calamari definitely stole the show. It's hard to grill calamari well without it being too raw or too rubbery, and this was done perfectly. The accompanying salad had a homemade herb dressing that was amazing, too. Soooo good! I ordered the farmhouse chicken for my entree, and my boyfriend ordered the pork medallions. I tried some of his, and the pork was deliciously tender and well-cooked. However, I didn't want any more of his than a bite, because my chicken and accompanying veggies were SOOO good! Yum!! The hand-whisked herb sauce was filled with fresh herbs and chunks of roasted garlic, and it matched perfectly with the tender chicken and perfectly-cooked veggies. I easily cleaned my plate. For dessert, we shared the chocolate mousse with strawberries, which was again phenomenal. I could only eat a few bites, but stretching my stomach a little more was well worth it. All of this deliciousness, plus great friendly service and a chill atmosphere earned Lokal an easy 5 stars. We'll be back!!
(5)
S.A.M. R.

Spare yourself a crappy experience. Bought the groupon in hopes of finding a new local favorite.. Went on a wed. Night at 6:30 thinking all would be great.. Wow wrong! First off they could've cared less that we had a reservation.. The waitress/ bartender could not hAve been colder or ruder. On top of that, as someone else stated she was the server and bartender so everything took forever Our food came out completely over cooked and burnt.. My fish and asparagus were so burnt they had black char all over them ( and not the good grill mark kind) i had to return it as it was inedible
(1)
Albert C.

The menu here is pretty simple therefore, I can make my selection a lot quicker. The brunch here is phenomenal & there's Bottomless mimosa on the weekends! What's not to love about this place? Also, Friday nights are usually busy (Hip hop night) and they close at 2am.
(4)
Christine S.

Inappropriate ladies like an inappropriate brunch and NOTHING is more inappropriate than $7 bottomless mimosa's and delicious brunch with 5 of my best friends. Jess was our server and she was wonderful. No matter how much of my mimosa was gone (even just a little) she was there to fill it up for me. She was fast and attentive. We loved Jess. For my entree I had the Watercress Bella Omelet. Let me tell you, this thing is big...like a big fat burrito. Oh and it's long too. And to top it off, it's pretty delicious. All of the ingredients are perfectly purported so that you don't get too much of anything. The roasted potatoes are a nice compliment to the omelet. I had a bite of biscuits and gravy from one of my girlfriends plates...it was pretty good but nothing I would get for a main dish for myself. Oh and don't forget bacon. Bitches LOVE bacon. I'm a bacon loving bitch. Lokal's bacon isn't anything special but it's bacon, bitch.... I'd come back for brunch in a heart beat.
(4)
Alan W.

Five stars for the bar tender, owner, and server with excellent service on a Tuesday. The food quality is good, but in the city with excellent prices, deserves 4.5 stars.
(5)
Daniel C.

Love Lokal! SIX STARS for $7 Bottomless Mimosas alone. ($9 bloody marys if you're into vegetables in your drinks) They really keep it coming too. Just drop off the carafe I will do the dispensing. The food is delicious. European/french inspired. The potato pancakes are delicious, they have NUTELLA FRITES which was deep fried banana sandwich with nutella filler! I've been for brunch only but they have dinner/happy hour specials almost every night of the week. Plus hot hot hot waitresses!
(5)
Kelly B.

Lokal is a small, modern Euro-club located on a busy restaurant/Bar/Boutique strip on North Avenue in Wicker Park. They serve upscale Polish fare and have a trendy vibe. The trendy male European bartenders are very serious about their job. It's all business with them. I haven't tried the Sunday brunch, but I hear it's tasty. My only complaint is that the night crowd is very clubby and some of the male clients are a little "handsy." I had one in particular who appeared to be a regular. He bellied up to the bar next to me and he kept touching me. Every time I turned around he looked the other way. What, are we in Kindergarten? I can't blame the bar for their patrons, but if this the regular crowd, I might have to think hard before returning late night. Otherwise, it's a nice place.
(4)
Joe H.

I was hit by glass in the face and arm and soaked in drinks when a rumble took place on Saturday 6/21. They compromised their guests safety in order to save themselves. I'm considering legal action due to their negligent security and belligerent bar staff.
(1)
Will M.

Why go anywhere else for brunch? Lokal is a fantastic find in the increasingly over-crowded yet under-performing brunch scene. Bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's for seven and nine dollars respectively... Yes, please! Food options are delicious and varied, with a waitstaff that is eager to please. I recommend getting a couple of plates and sharing because the portions are huge and you will want to enjoy offerings such as the stuffed french toast or the duck confit eggs benedict.
(4)
Saba A.

Came here on Derby Day. I was so happy they were not having a Derby event. Our French bartender was cute as my girl and I sat at the bar and ordered a glass of wine and wings (which were okay). We came in on a cloudy Saturday afternoon, so there were a few people in there having lunch and it was a great stop by and in cutest part of Wicker Park. The lunch menu was okay, nothing on there seemed appetizing to me but I did enjoy my glass of wine and the quiet environment. My girl and I were able to sit for awhile and catch up with each other's lives without being interrupted or having that feeling that we have to leave. I guess someone comes in here to play the guitar once a week and it gets more crowded later on in the night but I felt it was great to just come in for the afternoon!
(4)
Vanessa W.

This is the BEST brunch place in Chicago!! You canNOT beat their $7 bottomless mimosas anywhere!! You have to get there early because it gets super busy since it's not that big of an establishment. I went at 10am on a Saturday and got one of the last tables. I highly recommend getting the locks and bagel. It comes with red caviar, which I hadn't tried until that moment and was pleasantly surprised! Everyone at my table loved their food so it seems to me that you can't go wrong with anything that you order. Since you're only paying $7 for bottomless mimosas, the price of the food was reasonable. The staff is great and very friendly. I'm excited to go back!!
(5)
Delia H.

$7 bottomless mimosas equates to them expecting you to finish your meal in 7 min and leave. If you take longer than that they will consistently hover over you and ask to remove your plate several times while youre still eating. Horrible brunch experience second time in a row. I gave them the benefit of the doubt first time. Second time deserves a review.
(1)
Alex P.

French Toast was delicious!!!! Bottomless Mimosas were very good. We had reservations and they seated us promptly but it was a bit crowded. Sunday brunch. Waitresses were very welcoming and pleasant. Good ambiance.
(4)
Shantanu D.

I had the water crest omelette here and I thought the omelette tasted average at best. It lacked the fluffiness and texture that you see at most places. Also, the goat cheese was overpowering the rest of the flavors. Even the hash browns on the side, they were over seasoned and slightly salted.
(3)
Mel S.

Yeah so I've been here way too much. Their menu changes so I just wanted to give this place more love. Came here on a Sat night at 8pm- no wait at all. The server was awesome. We were a little high maintenance but she was patient. We started off with truffle fries, mussels, and potato pancakes. All were amazing. The mussels are a good portion btw- there were 6 of us! The steak marinated salad was good- the cheese was a little heavy but there was no complaints with the steak. I had the pork belly which was delicious! I love the potato pancake!! My gf had the schnitzel- its a huge portion of a chicken filet fried. It was ok, I may pass on this. My other friend had the duck confit. He claims it was cooked to perfection, but not original. The verdict is it was good. I love this place so much. At the end, the server brought us a round of Zubrowka shots at no charge. How awesome is that? Get here!!
(5)
Rebecca N.

I would 100% recommend buying the groupon for this place! I would recommend coming here in genera! However, the groupon is unreal deal. I loved the record decor of Lokal. It has a really cool style and feel. We started with their special ginger infused vodka cocktail. It did not disappoint. For food we started with the tuna tartare. We split the pasta which you could tell was homemade and had outstanding flavor. The cod was very good as well, a bit salty. Dessert was unreal. I can't wait to come here for brunch! Bottomless mimosas/bloody marys--what could be better!
(4)
Steven M.

DO NOT get the summer kraut ribs! Maybe their other dishes are better, but this one will keep me from going back. When I asked the waitress about it, she told me, "if you really like sauerkraut, you'll like these ribs." What she should have said was, "if you like your ribs boiled without seasoning, you'll like these ribs." It comes out of the kitchen with an A+ presentation, covered in sauerkraut. I tear a rib off and it's falling off the bone. Problem: it doesn't taste like anything at all. Maybe a little salt. The sauerkraut which is supposed to have a bold, distinctive taste doesn't even taste like anything. When I was a kid, my mom (who's intense about her steaks) explained to me that putting steak sauce on a steak is an insult to the restaurant. The steak should stand on its own and steak sauces mask almost all the intended flavor. "Just don't do it, Steven. Unless you're really disappointed and want them to know." The same should apply to "gourmet" ribs. I asked for barbecue sauce for these ribs... Awful and $20!
(1)
Steve L.

A friend tried some of their stuff at Baconfest earlier this year and she talked me into going. It was far more than I expected. From the trendy upscale bar, the free shots of infused vodka we were offered, friendly and helpful waiter, and an adventurous menu that took us to Eastern Europe and back made me anxious for another visit before I'd left. The pork belly? Amazing. It's hard to do bacon wrong, but it's also hard to do it to perfection. They did. The goat cheese risotto left me moaning. Pork chop was drier than I expected, but very flavorful and not at all tough. I do not recall what we had for dessert upon writing the review, only that she and I both enjoyed it. A winner!
(5)
Lauren K.

I went here because I had a Groupon that was expiring soon and wow, was I impressed! I called ahead and made reservations for a Thursday night. The place was crowded, but not packed. We were seated in a spacious booth that was nice and cozy. The drinks were delicious (Lokal mule!). But the food was even better. A table of 4 of us shared the pork belly and mussels as our appetizers. Oh my goodness, the pork belly was AMAZING! Everything from the meat, to the sauce and even the kale on the plate was delicious! The mussels were also very good and my friend was about ready to drink the sauce right out of the bowl. I ordered the NY strip steak which was prepared perfectly and the truffle frites were some of the best fries I've ever had. My friend order a side potato pancake which was better than my mom's homemade ones and that's tough to beat. Finally, nutella mousse with berry topping for dessert was the icing on the cake. I could have licked the dish clean. This place left me thinking about pork belly multiple times the next day. Amazing food, cozy atmosphere and great service. I will be making a trip into the city to go back!
(5)
Jen S.

This place is so terrible. Food was gross and service was bad. Cocktails were ok but I would never go back.
(1)
Ana W.

A couple my boyfriend and I are friends with had bought the Groupon and invited us to go with them for dinner this past Saturday. My first impression when we walked in is that it was small, cute and trendy. We had reservations, and the hostess said the wait would be 5 to 10 minutes - totally fine, we will just order drinks at the bar! There were three or four bartenders working the bar where maybe 10 people were sitting. All four of us were standing there staring at the people working the bar, obviously wanting to order. Nope, went completely unnoticed. They seemed a little frazzled in trying to seat all the parties that were arriving (not much space for people waiting), but we were seated relatively quickly. With the Groupon we had two appetizers, four entrees and two desserts. We ordered a bottle of wine that was like 35 bucks with a SCREW OFF TOP - really? I'm sure at Binny's it would have costed like 12 bucks. But oh well. The appetizers we ordered - pork belly and mussels - were AMAZING. Honestly delicious. My friends boyfriend slurped the mussel sauce with a straw, it was that good (and yes, we are that classy). As far as entrees go, the consensus at the table was just average. Two people ordered the fish of the day, salmon I believe, I ordered (overcooked) duck, and one person ordered pork tenderloin, which was actually pretty good. Otherwise, nothing to write home about. The dessert though, was pretty awesome. It was Nutella mousse, which was just as good as it sounds. Overall, the food was pretty decent. The service, after we became more friendly and talkative, was pretty good too. Nice, friendly people but not too friendly where they fill your water every two minutes. I would go back here if someone invited me, but no, probably won't be heading back anytime too soon. Also - agree with past post - is it Lokal (pronounced 'low cal') or Lokal, like local?
(3)
Daniela A.

I had a Groupon to Lokal and my husband and I tried it for the first time on Saturday night. The groupon was for one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert and I bought it since I thought it was a good deal. We split the steak tartare and it was quite tasty. It was served with a quail egg on top and marble rye bread with a drizzle of balsamic. The flavors complemented each other nicely. I then ordered the Pan Roasted Guntrup Farm Chicken. It was served over a bed of roasted vegetables and was in an herb broth. It was somewhat tasty but was by no means memorable. My husband ordered the NY strip steak and, again, it was just OK. Nothing terrible but nothing noteworthy either. The food was very average and we will not be returning due to this. As for the ambiance, I had the impression that they could not decide if they wanted to be a neighborhood bar, a club, or a restaurant. We were seated in the back room which reeked of stale beer. The decorations are very bizarre. The lighting is modern and sleek but there are big TVs which are sports bar-like. I am all for an eclectic ambiance, but this was just all over the place. Also, the wait staff was very frantic. It is a small restaurant and it appeared to be sufficiently staffed, but they were all running around like they couldn't keep up. Lastly, I feel the name is a little weird. It might be just me but every time I think of the restaurant, I pronounce it as "Lo Cal", as in low calorie, instead of local. I hope I am the only person.
(2)
Nishan P.

Bitter about our ongoing economic woes? Here's some news to sweeten your mood: LOKal offers $7 bottomless mimosas. And they don't skimp on this deal either. Before you finish one, another is delivered to the table. Within an hour, my brunch companions and I had consumed 5 mimosas each. My breakfast sandwich (the LOKal) consisted of over easy eggs, polish sausage, tomato and arugula on a French roll. It was good but not exceptional. Next time I am going to try an ahi sandwich. The way Mary T. wolfed down hers, I am sure it tasted a lot better than my meal. What amazed me about LOKal was the lack of a wait at 11 AM on a Sunday morning. I guess word just hasn't gotten out yet. Now I am not suggesting you go get blitzed on the Sabbath, but if you do wish to do so over brunch, LOKal provides an economical option with no wait.
(4)
Eric J.

Went here with a party of 9 for brunch. Food was ok, service a little condescending, and the bathrooms were single-seaters. Surprise! Max of 3 credit cards per table. There are plenty of customer-friendly places in Chicago with great food. Won't be back to Lokal.
(1)
Ana A.

Lokal is my Wicker-inhabiting friend and I's OFFICIAL go-to weekend brunch spot. You may think it's lame of us, but we get the same exact thing every time we visit: the biscuits & gravy, bottomless mimosas for me, and bottomless bloodys for her. I like to think of it as getting straight to business-- business being getting our afternoon buzz and gossip on. I really don't care about the ambiance, clientele, or service (which is disorganized but friendly)... As long as I can drink 5 glasses of mimosa for $7 and eat delicious tomato-y biscuits and gravy, we'll keep coming back.
(4)
Brett N.

I was looking forward to our dinner here since the Groupon description seemed interesting. We couldn't get a reservation for a Friday night so we booked two seats via Open Table for the following Wednesday night. We were hoping for a nice night out of good food. The curb appeal seems very makeshift - not intentionally basic but trying to act like a grown-up. Upon walking in we were greeted by the cheerful hostess (later bartender) and when we said we had a reservation she "oh..." as if to say they hadn't checked. Regardless, she offered us a high-top sandwiched between 2 of the 5 or so up at the front near the bar. This isn't how we wanted to enjoy a nice meal so we explored the room and asked for another (larger) 2-top in the back section. The place was busy at 6:45. Our waitress greeted us promptly and told us how lucky we were to be able to use our Groupon because they had simply refuse others. Feeling like we were cheating the "system" we ordered our food but were so unimpressed by the space and the hospitality that we simply wanted to eat and leave. The restaurant has no particular ambiance other than something I might call "bohemian garage." Gritty concrete floors (not the sexy kind), vinyl LPs glued to one wall, bare filament bulbs not shaded or dimmed and my pet peeve: the rocking table. The place smelled like beer - in a frat party sort of way. The big empty bathroom featured blue lighting, graffiti, and a random section of victorian wallpaper that didn't fill the space. The vibe was more like a basement club for grunge bands than local farm-to-table restaurant. Oh, they had a TV tucked up in one corner which always says "class" to me. Our first corse was the Kielbasa. A simple dish slit longways and grilled with flavorless onions. Seemed like a simple Hillshire Farms sausage we'd make at home. Nothing special, yet it took about 30 minutes to reach us. I had the Pork Loin which was very tender and flavorful but it was covered in the most bland and runny mushroom cream in made my whole plate seem like someone spilled warm milk on my plate. It was so off-putting, I commented to the waitress who apologized and went back to kitchen to taste it. She then came back and said it tasted fine to her. Oh gee, I guess I was wrong then. (Salt? Pepper? Anything? There are no spices on the table) The wilted spinach was tasty but the potato pancake suffered the mushroom water spill. My companion had the Steak which was a fairly hearty plate and was accompanied by a potent dark jus on the side which was daring and delicious. The rest of the plate was standard fare of mashed potatoes (one whole one buried in there). Cole slaw was vey nice. There is only one dessert featured nightly and this time it was a small, crispy waffel-like pasty with Nutella and strawberry sauce that was intriguingly delicious. It was tender, crispy, and suculent - a real plate-licker. The experience at Loka left us so wanting that we walked the neighborhood for a nightcap to help shake off our unsatisfying evening. We hope our night would be more like the sexy looking Store Front Co. across the street. Instead, we tripped over to Trenchermen just west of the L and got our groove on with funky cocktails, a cool vibe and a promise to come back for dinner another night. Skip Lokal. There are better Wicker Park options.
(2)
Alfreda D.

Website = 1 star (I'll explain) Phone/Host Service = 1 star Wait Service = 3 stars Food = 5 stars I organized a birthday brunch for me and my friend. Most places in Chicago don't have bottomless brunch (and if you're reading this and have great recommendations of other places PLEASE send me a note!) so that's why I chose Lokal. They have bottomless mimosas, champagne and bloody marys. Website: To my surprise, the website gave me the option to make brunch reservations (also a rarity). Score! I made 2 reservations for 4 people for Saturday brunch. (I wasn't able to make a single reservation for a party over 4). So far, the website gets a 5 star rating but... Phone/Host Service: On the morning of the brunch, I called and talk to Kwame to explain that I had two reservations under my name, each for 4 people. I would need the tables combined because it was for the same party. He sounded confused and said they don't take reservations for brunch. I was like hmmm, "Well I have the email confirmations for both of them. Would you like me to read the confirmation numbers?" He tried to explain that while they do accept reservations for dinner, they do no for brunch. He further said that the team working in the evening messes that up sometimes (way to throw them under the bus Kwame!) and shouldn't have allowed me to do that. "Oh", I say. "Well actually, my reservation was made online and it clearly says brunch at 11am. Again, do you want the confirmation number?" He tells me that the website is wrong and they don't accept reservations. Okaaaay, but since I clearly have one, all you need to know is that I won't be waiting forever and a day for my friends and I to be seated. He makes it seem as if it won't be a problem because they aren't that busy. Fine. I'm already en route at this point. My friend and I arrive and the other ladies straggle in slowly but surely. I ask for Kwame and say that we spoke over the phone a few minutes ago. I can see that they aren't busy at all so I feel better about getting seated immediately. WRONG. He says the entire party has to be there before being seated. UGH! Why are my friends always late???? Ok, so we wait... So again, they aren't too busy and my whole party hasn't arrived yet. No problem. Did they (Kwame and another lady working at the front) offer to show us the menu, offer a a drink while we waited, etc.? Nope. I eventually ask for a couple of menus and also ask if we can start drinking the bottomeless mimosas. NOPE. It's only bottomless while you are eating... as in food in front of your face! DOUBLE DAMN. Ok my rant about this segment is over. Hence... 1 star for Website (false information) and Phone/Host service. Wait Service: Hallelujah we get seated! There are 7 of us. First things first, bottomless mimosas please! We each get a glass and say we're ready to order. After all, we had forever and a day (just what I didn't want) waiting up front to look it over. She makes another trip back and forth then we order. Mind you, we were seated WAY in the back corner... like I literally couldn't see the host stand from our seats and it was difficult to to seen by our server if we needed something along the way. By the time she'd leave and come back at least half of our glasses were empty and I was getting anxious about how this "bottomless" brunch was going to go down. I don't need my server to pace my drinks! No thanks! LOL. Once she realized that coming back one by one wasn't going to work for a large table, she starting bringing carafes of mimosas and things got better. To add to our poor location, the table was large and accommodated all of us but the flat pillows spread on top of a wooden bench/block/something was uncomfortable. Food: A few things looked good (based on other Yelpers photos) but I went with the French Toast with a side of eggs. It sounds like a pretty basic brunch item but the FT was really good! It was piled with whip cream and an orange-maple glaze. You didn't need to add syrup or anything (clearly!) and I ate it all up. It looked like my friends enjoyed their meals too. So although my food was good and we eventually did get to enjoy the bottomless mimosas... this won't be a go-to spot for brunch. Not for me. Service means too much to me and I was way too irritated at MY birthday brunch to want to deal with them again. I will, however, try them out for dinner... and only because I have a Groupon that I bought last fall that I need to use. I'll provide an update afterwards but until then... peace out Lokal.
(3)
Yvonne B.

I don't know how they do it! The service is always, ALWAYS professional and friendly. They make me feel like I'm a long lost cousin that they want to treat to a special evening. Everyone works to make sure that I'm attended to. Then comes the food. Everything I've ever gotten from LOKaL has been mind-blowingly delicious. Somehow they manage to create tantalizing textures and flavors that make me tremble with pleasure. Might I recommend the grilled pork cheek appetizer? They also made magic out of lentils and music with my Po Boy sandwich. Definitely don't skip on the drinks. I don't know what would be better harmony to a scrumptious dining experience. The drinks just elevate everything to the next level, and why wouldn't you want to go there? (Rhetorical question - of COURSE you'd want to go there!) The ambiance at LOKaL is lively and hip, but not to the point where it's obnoxious. For example, tables are nicely spaced and the noise-level is a low rumble. You won't have to shout to converse with your dining partner. In the evenings a DJ comes and plays contemporary jams at a perfect volume. It's just enough to inject excitement into the evening, but not enough to distract from conversation. I mentioned this in my last review too, but I think it's worth mentioning again. Apparently LOKaL has changed since they first opened. They responded to guests' feedback and made portions larger (although not glutenous) and made the ambiance more casual (jeans are fine, but definitely not sweats). If you went before and didn't like it, you should return for another go.
(5)
Tyrone F.

On a Tuesday Morning, a few friends and I were craving brunch and some mimosas. It was a nice day, so fortunately the windows were open. It was a really great experience. Had bottomless Mimosas and the Pork Belly. It was great and a very pleasant atmosphere. The server was very attentive too. He was the only one there, it seemed.
(5)
M K.

Went here for brunch the place was packed. Our server was great. Everything was great until I started eating and started chewing on something extremely crunchy. Which after taking this out of my mouth realized I must have taken a bite into half an eggshell. Our server was super nice about it and said she could see it from across the table and was sorry. The bottomless mimosas stopped once our plates were taken. When the bill came I did not receive any sort of discount. I asked the server about it and she said I'm glad you asked I asked the manager and she did not want to give you one, but I'll ask again. When she asked again the manager gave us 2.00 off our 40.00 bill. I thought this was ridiculous. Most places would give you you're meal free when you find half an eggshell in your meal. I am still impress that somehow the chef cooked an eggs benedict and did not notice such a large eggshell. Who knew it was possible
(2)
Taryn M.

I came with a small group for Sunday brunch and bottomless champagne. The food was delicious, and our server was wonderful! I would be giving it 5 stars, but one of the owners was incredibly rude and pushy. She seemed to only care about flipping tables and getting us out of there as fast as possible, and she wasn't even trying to hide it. If it weren't for our awesome server, we would have all been very displeased with the attitude of the staff.
(4)
Shawna V.

So some friends and I came up for the Chiditerod and we were exhausted and hungry. I am an avid groupon-er so I saw a deal for 4 people at this place or a Sushi place. We decided to go with this one and set out into the streets of Chicago. Little did we know what a grand culinary adventure was in store for us. For appetizers we choose the cheese and pickles plate and the truffle fries. Both were so good. I want to pickle all of the things now. Or hire the chef to come pickle things for me. Onion pickles, tiny pickles Mmmm Pickles. Also the truffle fries were quite good they did NOT skimp on the chipped asiago, not one bit. Yum yum yum! I got the duck, let me tell you it was moist and heavy just like I like it. Others had similar happiness about their own meals. The guy knows how to cook meat and what to put it with for maximum delicious. I got a free vodka shot for checking in on yelp but they served us four so no one was left out. Wow! They had one Veg option but the vegetarian said it was great so he was not put out. The menu is small and rotates based on what is availible locally so one veg option when there are 6-7 entrees to choose from was not to bad. GF was easy to do here and I did not feel limited in my choices at all. Atmosphere: This place feels like a cross between a bar and a resturant. Super chiq interior in a small space. IT was really intimate. Service: They were SO MUCH FUN and super on top of things. No hint of psycho waitress so maybe Sonal should give it another go.
(5)
Melanie V.

Ummmm, $7 bottomless mimosas? Too good to be true! I'm pretty sure we had 5 each....or 7. Ahhh, Sunday brunches. Loved my biscuits and gravy. LIke the waitress said, it was more like a sausage biscuit sandwich, topped with gravy. Delicious. We also got a taste of the nutella + fruit dessert. Very good, but if you eat to much of it, you'd be on your way to a food coma. Service was great! The waitress was super friendly and had our mimosas ready even before we finished our other ones. LoKal is a great space - bright, lotsa tables, modern. Definitely ranks up there on my list of brunch spots!
(4)
RÃ©jane P.

I initially heard about Lokal from my close friend and former roommate who has made this place her second home. I have been here several times now and in my opinion, they have really delicious fare, a fun and vibrant atmosphere, and some of the friendliest staff I've encountered in Chicago. I recommend trying the truffle fries, the kielbasa (I didn't even like beets until I tried theirs), tuna tartare, and the pork tenderloin. Their weekend brunch is also tasty. The bartenders, servers, and owners are friendly and good at their craft. On some nights, there is music and it can get pretty crowded (not over crowded) with people looking to unwind and enjoy some good vodka drinks. All around, a good vibe. I would recommend this place for a fun evening/night out solo or with a group.
(4)
Daniel C.

Been here a few times and I am becoming a regular. I have had a few different things here but my favorites are the goat cheese risotto and the grass fed beef burger. Every Tuesday the entire menu is half off which is awesome because the food is so good and the prices are unbelievable. Eric is the bartender I have always seen up there and he is good at his job. Friendly service, good food, great value. Also, they have a badass DJ spinning too.
(4)
Katie M.

I wish I had trusted my instincts and just not gone in, but I had already paid the cab to get there, the babysitter was at home with my baby, and it was girls night out. This mama was on a mission to have fun. The vibe upon walking in was just eh-people were dressed very casually, it was pretty bright, and it just didn't give off a cozy intimate dinner vibe. Whatever. I read some good reviews so I figured it should be good. We get to our table, order a bottle of champagne to kick off the night, and from there things went downhill. The server/owner (yes, OWNER) pretty much ignored us and talked down to us....telling us how he was fresh off the boat, forcing us to order before the rest of our party arrived (hey, that's their prob if they seat us before our third guest arrived, but we ordered a bottle of champagne, so thought it would be okay). While we waited for our friend to arrive, we noticed our server going back and forth from the bar to the kitchen talking on his cell phone, and even going up to some tables mid cell phone call, holding the phone in his hand while he talked to his tables. Our friend arrived and we placed our appetizer order (steamed kale and flatbread) and ordered a bottle of wine. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. We waited OVER an hour. We went to the bar to get our own water...although we asked the owner/waiter for refills on our water. We asked him where our food was because, hey I'm paying a sitter by the hour so essentially my food costs whatever it costs PLUS the hourly rate I pay my girl. This guy had the nerve to tell us it wasn't his fault that it was taking over an hour for some flatbread, that the orders got messed up in the machine and that it would be out soon. He seriously said, It's not my fault. WHAT? Yes, it is your fault. You are our server and it is your responsibility to take care of your tables and check the kitchen to see why the wait is so long for some flatbread and steamed kale. After an hour and a half of waiting for food, and having to see people around us getting their food and seeing our waiter on his cell phone (oh, and do you think he washed his hands after talking on his cell phone and then dropping off food? EWW) we finally just told him we couldn't wait any longer. STILL at this point he didn't apologize and said, "well I guess this is partially my fault" and that our food should be out shortly and he would buy us our dinner. Within minutes, he brought out our flatbread and steamed kale and then comped those items and the bottle of wine (not the champagne). As if the service and the wait wasn't bad enough, the flatbread was dry and the kale was a bit off...but I guess if it takes 1.5 hours to make a flatbread and some kale, something is BOUND to be wrong. Anyway, so much for a girls night out. I would not recommend this place especially because this was the OWNER who was treating us so poorly and who was so smug. I have a gift certificate to this place that I am actually going to shred...such a bad experience.
(1)
Emily C.

I was pleasantly surprised by the food at Lokal - a neighborhood Polish restaurant. We really liked the steak tartare as our app. We both tried the fish of the day and it was excellent. We did have a few problems. We asked if we could substitue the risotto for more asparagus and they told us no problem. When we got the bill, they charged us $4 each for that. That seemed high and unnecessary to me. We aren't eating the risotto so why should we pay extra? I don't know, $4 just seemed really high for a few extra stalks of asparagus. I also felt like once the bartender knew we had a Groupon, he wouldn't give us the time of day. Not good incentive to come back without one!! 109/365
(3)
Jay O.

Love Love Love this place!! Came on Saturday (St Patty weekend) and it was packed. FYI they will not seat you until your whole party is present. So my group decided to do the bottomless mimosas and it was the best idea ever!! Lol and in the spirit of St pattys the mimosas were green! (Very cool). So the deal with the bottomless drinks is that it ends when you finish your food, so pace yourself lol. But, if you still want to continue drinking even after your food it's only $2 a glass, which is still a good deal. But honestly they are on point when refilling your drink that you won't need to do the $2 deal. You will be tipsy before then. Food The food was delicious, had the omelette special where you could add in different types of veggies, cheeses & meats. I wished I lived locally because I would be here all the time lol definitely check out this place you won't regret it. Oh don't forget to check-in on yelp you get a FREE shot. My group took advantage of that and they do honor it. Also make sure you get the blonde polish server (sorry can't remember her name) she was super nice & attentive, she made our dining experience even better!
(4)
Krunal S.

Overall the food was okay. Service on the other hand was something that I would never want again. After being 5 mins late for our reservation we waited for 40 mins to sit down. This is regardless of a open table behind us. Bottomless is not truly bottomless. It's is only while you dine and if you are done early it's time to rush you off. When you ask for more they say it's only while you dine. So order more food or go elsewhere. Which I will from now on. Good concept made worst by people who enforce them! Like many restaurants in Chicago if you can't keep the locals happy you keep your doors open.
(2)
Julie M.

Bottomless brunch for my bachelorette. They gave us the big table in the back. Service was great and we were able to get 5 rounds of mimosas. Food was delicious- the egg white scrambler was awesome. Free shots to end off brunch. Will definitely be back with my fiancÃ© for more bottomless!
(4)
Jill and Ying J.

I came here with some friends on a Friday night after we tried to go to Piece and faced a two-hour wait. This place was suspiciously empty at 8pm, but after confirming on Yelp that is wasn't a disaster, the four of us were seated right away. We were all pretty hungry and the food hit the spot -- truffle fries, fried calamari, burgers, mussels. The drinks were a little disappointing, i.e. the infused vodka did not really taste that infused with anything, but otherwise no real complaints. Service was decent, contrary to the other reviews, but again the place was really not that crowded. Loved the decor of the place.
(3)
Alyssa G.

My friends and I went for an early brunch on a Saturday. We all opted for the bottomless mimosas ($7 - great deal!) and they continued to bring carafe after carafe for us to all share. It truly was bottomless. The food was good, we all got different things. I wouldn't say anyone was impressed by their meal but at the end of the day it was satisfying. I had the potato pancakes which were standard. They came with 2 eggs and 2 sauces both of which were tasty. If I were to give advice about this place it is to go there for the bottomless mimosas or bloody marys, not the food.
(4)
Melissa T.

Have been here twice for drinks only, and both times were on the higher end of mediocre. The last time was Saturday 12/1. The bar tenders were ok, but focused most of their efforts on putting my cocktail on hold to talk with each other and flirting with patrons. Oh, and showcasing their jumping prowess by bounding over the door that separates the bar from the front door area. Repeatedly. However, both times we ordered 2 drinks, and both times the staff doubled the tip on the card after we left. Both times this was on my boyfriend's credit card and realized days after the visit, and after the second time it was enough for me to write a review. I really don't want to call the manager over the difference of $3 to $6, but it's shady and annoying. I simply won't go there anymore, and will advise my friends not to as well.
(1)
Roshan S.

NOT BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS!! We came here on a Sunday. We put in an open table reservation for 10:45am and got here at 10:55. We didn't get seated until 11:45, the place was extremely loud. With a group of 6 adults we went through quite a bit if mimosas. However, they do not tell you that once you are finished with your meal they will not give you more of your mimosas. Even if we asked for more our waitress would not give us anymore. We've been to other all you can drink mimosas and bloody mary places and the last one I went to, Market, was a true all you can drink place. Don't fall for this place's fine print on what they think bottomless means. We were forced to leave as soon as our meal was over and we just wanted some more mimosas. Before we were seated a group had the exact same complaint to the manager. We should have left and gone to Market. The food was nothing great where I couldn't get the same somewhere else. If you're thinking about this place I would move on. I think the response from Lokal below pretty much sums up how they'd like to treat their customers with their shady practice. Lokal, the first place to offer bottomless but not really bottomless mimosa. Don't put yourself through an unhappy experience, move on. Yelp will give you a great set of results on GOOD TRULY bottomless mimosa places in Chicago and Wicker Park. About the response: 1. Their website and menu does not say anything about bottomless mimosas only while you dine, nor did the server specify that. So this is not a bottomless mimosa place. Server also said they were bottomless and did not mention it was only during the meal, she only mentioned it after our meal when we still wanted mimosas. 2. Our party was there at 10:55, 10 minutes late. We were seated at 11:45. I don't need a reason to exaggerate here, I'm just stating what really happened. 50 min is actually not bad in Chicago.
(1)
Holly O.

You know, I found this place to be just "okay." Went here for brunch - and I mean, they have bottomless mimosas... so I mean, clearly, they win points for that. Ordered the brunch item that had pork belly - and it was good... but I LOVE pork belly and have it a lot - and this was good, but just... not... memorable. Plus, I ordered coffee with cream -and they brought me cream packet cup things. If you are classy enough to serve pork belly on your menu, aren't you classy enough to have real cream in a little cream pitcher for your coffee? *confused* I'd go back, though.
(3)
Josh G.

Service: I give it 5 stars! Kristen, I believe was her name, was great! She's also extremely HOT! Can I say that here?! She was friendly, smiley, helpful, attentive, and fun. I wish all servers were like her. Food: I can give the food 5 stars too! We started with the Tuna Tartare for our appetizer. I ordered the NY Strip Steak on a bed of frites. *I'm a steak and potatoes kind of guy...I'm not a European steak and frites kind of guy. LOL! The other in the party ordered the Pork. It was moist, warm, and flavorful. Vincent could learn a few things from this chef. Cocktails were filled with flavor and were just yummy...and strong. Excellent! Dessert was the one dessert option they had, and it was pretty good. Ambiance: The environment was great. It is fine for a group of friends and fine for a date. The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is for the incredibly LOUD music. They had live music, which I love, but it was simply TOO LOUD. I don't want to be having dinner and yelling at my date or friends. Conversation was difficult in this environment. It was great when they band took a break. The live music was performed by talented musicians; they did a good job, but it was just too loud. One Negative: They serve their water out of champagne bottles. Apparently they clean them with bleach prior to serving water in them. Well, I took a nice swig of water and was ready to spit it back into the glass. I didn't quite know how to describe the nastiness I was tasting, but it was like a bleachy, dirty feet type taste. *No, I've not tasted dirty feet...or clean ones for that matter. I digress. Once we told Kristen about it, she knew exactly what we were describing, immediately apologized, took it all away, and quickly came back with some nice, fresh, non bleachy, non dirty feety ice water. I had a groupon for dinner for two, which included one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert. It was a GREAT Groupon purchase! Our bill, with drinks, would have been $95 without the Groupon. With the Groupon, just paying for drinks, it was about $45ish. Parking: Can be a bit of a pain. :(
(4)
Kara O.

We bought the Groupon for Lokal on Saturday night. We ordered the pork belly appetizer which was very, very good. My husband has the schnitzel and I had the New York strip steak. The schnitzel was bland and tasted only like whatever frying oil was used to fry it in, and the steak was tough, chewy and drowning in red wine reduction sauce. For dessert, we were given melted ice cream with melted nutella and raspberry drizzle. It was store bought ice cream from Jewel, I could tell. In fact, if they can prove to me that it was NOT Fieldcrest chocolate ice cream, I will remove this review. Now onto the service. Our server was also bartending, so when I asked for another drink, he went behind the bar and served a few people before forgetting to bring me a glass of wine. I asked him for it again and he remembered to bring it fifteen minutes after I asked for it the first time. The owner was out shmoozing with all of the customers who were pissed for having to wait forever. In fact, I actually heard him say, "Give us five stars on Yelp!" He gave away free shots to two tables next to us, but didn't offer us any shots. I guess we should have complained. How about instead of shmoozing with people and begging for good Yelp reviews, you cook quality food that is up to par with other Chicago restaurants? I could see the panic on the owner's wife's face, who was also working the bar. The best part was when the waiter gave us our check and circled the amount the bill would have been if we hadn't used Groupon as if to remind us that we are to tip him on that amount. Just, wow. Two stars for pork belly!
(2)
Leang E.

I came here for brunch on Sunday with my sister and her boyfriend since I have been meaning to try the place out for some time. I also had a Groupon which I hadn't yet redeemed. This was a major motivating factor for me to try this place out, and the marketing and promotional effort did get me to go visit this place. I don't think I would have come otherwise. I was relieved to find that it wasn't yet crowded as it was already a little after 11. I had an early breakfast and was appreciative to see that there were sandwiches and lunch options as well as breakfast items. They have bottomless Mimosas, BloodMary's, and champagne, and I got the BloodyMary. It had a decent kick to it, but it was a little watery and not that great for me. I went with the Grilled Chicken Breast Sandwich that came with fries. This was very tasty. All the food looked delicious coming out and I would love to come back and try more. The staff always looks like they are busting their butts and running around being attentive as they could. The prices were reasonable, but my gripe had to do with the way the manager handled my Groupon voucher, and basically not wanting to honor it saying that it can only be applied to dinner. There was nothing stating this specifically on the voucher as it said dine-in-only. I think in good faith and to get repeat business it makes it so much easier to accept, which she eventually did but I had to talk with her a second time about it. Don't force people to come back again because they have to, but because you did them a solid in honoring something they've already paid for and make them feel good to want to come back. It's tough because this was the only beef I had, and would have easily said I would be coming back and referred people. I am hesitant because it was awkward, because she certainly showed she was unhappy to have to do this. When I left the look she gave me made me feel small and uncomfortable like she was pretty annoyed and pissed off with me. I feel like she'd remember me and make me feel unwelcome if I came in the next time.
(4)
Casandra A.

Bottomless mimosa's for $7.00, need I say more? Great food, I had the grilled chicken salad with a honey balsamic it was amazing! Definitely going back!
(4)
Kimberlie C.

Can't deny that the bottomless mimosas and bloodies on the weekend are a great deal. The service leaves a lot to be desired (I feel like I'm constantly flagging down the servers and waiting for a refill) and the food is just okay. All in all, a great, easy and cheap brunch spot that is very conveniently located a block from my apartment.
(3)
Jules D.

Good food, awesome drinks, incredible service. The staff really care about your experience at Lokal. You can expect a good time.
(4)
Sebastian B.

The Chef is amazing. Overall feel of the place is great. I heard the Chef came up with a special cheese that you can eat as much as possible and loose weight.
(5)
Casey F.

I wish I could give this place 2.5 stars. I've been here a total of 4 times before and couldn't bring myself to give them this bad of a review before because they are in my neighborhood. I've gone for brunch 3 separate times. The first 2 were when they were newly opened, and the service was terrible but I just thought they were working through the kinks. Not to mention I got served a bloody Mary there before that was straight up brown. And then they didn't remake it - they just brought me a side of tomato juice. Not the same. More recently, I went here for brunch with a girlfriend and we did bottomless mimosas. Great idea, great price. Food was excellent and came out quickly, however when we were done eating, we waited an hour and 15 more minutes before we were able to leave because it took that long to track down our waiter and pay the bill. Brunch for 2 people should not take 2 hours when the place wasn't packed. I am just not ok with that kind of time commitment. Not when there are so many other brunch spots. My husband and I got the Groupon for here and went for dinner the day before Thanksgiving. The food was good, non-memorable but still very good. Service was better than at brunch but there was only 2 other tables. My complaint is really around the price. We did the pre-fix dinner and by the time we each had 1 cocktail, paid tax, and tip, we still walked out spending $45. Plus the $30 I paid for the Groupon. A $75 dinner isn't uncommon by anymeans but considering I don't even remember what I ate, not worth it.
(2)
Monique B.

Came for brunch with the ladies for a friend's birthday. They have bottomless mimosas, champagne or bloody mary's that were the draw for us. The waitress did a great job keeping our glasses full the entire time. Although they are only bottomless for the time that you are eating, since we were a group of 7, that was quite a while. It was fun, and we had a huge booth in the corner that sat us all easily. The seats weren't that comfortable and the food wasn't that fun, but the company made up for a lot of the deficiencies. Not sure that I'll be back, but it was ok.
(3)
Eli J.

Just a quick note on the bottomless mimosas it is only while you are eating. Once you are done eating your food the mimosas are no longer bottomless. I had a great time, good food, attentive staff while it was crazy busy. Any restaurant that charges $7 for bottomless mimosas will get 4 stars from me, plain and simple.
(4)
Tracy H.

We went Sunday at 1:30 and were told our wait for a 4-person table would be "10-20 minutes." We ended up having to wait nearly 40 minutes, so that kind of sucked. Once we were finally seated, the service was good, if a little impersonal. My BF and I got the cheese and pickle platter. Decent cheese, but literally 2 little midget pickles. Seriously? I got the steak sandwich and wished I hadn't. It was kind of a mess, the flavors weren't great and the meat was meh and kind of fatty. Do NOT order this or you will be disappointed. That said, my BF got the po'boy and it was amazing. Very tender pulled pork. Lovely. The friends got the Reuben and were pleased.
(3)
Tanya K.

good!
(4)
John T.

ABSOLUTELY HORRENDOUS CUSTOMER SERVICE! My wife and I attempted to eat here this evening, but the staff was too busy having a good time playing around with each other and not focusing on what pays their bills. We were seated for at least 10 minutes before a server came over to take a drink order. When he did finally come over, it was almost as if we were bothering him. Instead of apologizing for the long wait, he stared into me as if I had three eyes. We proceed to order our drinks and he promptly, with an attitude says "Will we be ordering food this evening?". Not a weird question generally, but you can tell he was using a tone that was very rude and uncalled for. At this point we had enough and just knew there were many more options in the neighborhood. It's no wonder this place was half-empty at 7:30 on a Saturday night. Maybe the Polish mafia uses this as a front, otherwise I don't see this place lasting very long. Good food and terrible service don't provide a great recipe for success. Being in the restaurant business 13 years, in various cities and markets, I can say this was the WORST experience I have ever had. For my reserved wife to scream to cancel our order because of the rudeness of the staff and awkward vibe they presented, it takes a lot to get her to that point. The bottom of my shoes have more personality than the servers here. If I could 0-star this place I would...
(1)
Andy M.

My dinner consisted of buffalo wings, pork belly, beer and a Ham sandwich the size of William "Refrigerator" Perry's head. All of which were delicious. I could end my five star review here, but what fun would that be? Lokal is filled with distractions. Distractions from what's truly important. The crazy hipsters numbering in the hundreds riding down North Ave, Lokal's crazy, over the top, new wave decor, and the dyslexic music selection all distract you from the star of the show which is the food. After eating nothing but a shitty cup of Ramen noodles for lunch, I was starving. We're talking that Olsen twins on a hunger strike type of starving. Lokal was just what the doctor ordered. The pork belly appetizer had me drooling like Pavlov's dog. The meat was tender, juicy and delicious. Lokal's take on Buffalo Wings missed the mark. They were decent, but nowhere near as good as the pork belly we sampled. For my entree, I went with their grilled, Polish ham sandwich. This behemoth of a sandwich could sate the heartiest appetite. The sandwich was loaded with fresh ham and cold slaw. Lokal hit one out of the park with this awesome entree. The bottom line is this. Great bar food, prompt and attentive service and a comfortable vibe make Lokal a five star joint in my book. The pork belly and Ham sandwich were enough to make up for the so so wings. Its' bar food at it's best and I can't recommend the place enough.
(5)
Kathleen C.

Lokal, I have been nothing but pleased at all of the changes you've made over the course of the last number of months. I will detail some that I've noticed: - Silverware...I don't have to ask for it any longer....a good touch. - High topped tables in the front...this is a nice touch and breaks up the space a bit. - Bathroom lighting...I'm not sure if it happened to be broken when I was there last time, but the fact that the light wasn't bright red and I could see was fantastic! - Service was quick and efficient and very friendly! It has always been rather friendly, but very slow and lackadaisical. Now, friendly and you can find your server when you need them! I have always enjoyed the food and I think the price-point is also really reasonable. However, now that the above has also improved, I'm liking it even more. I plan to be back to take advantage of some of the daily specials!
(5)
Eli M.

What an Amazing place! I have been visiting Lokal now for about 2 years and consider it one of my favorite places in the city to visit. The food is some of the best in the neighborhood (food you crave after having it just ounce). Many of my family and friends have eaten here with me, and are always impressed! Not only is everything delicious, it is affordable. You get a quality meal without the huge bill! To back it all up, The employees have great customer service and work hard, together as a team to make your experience enjoyable. I love this place so much, I had my salon's Holiday Dinner there this year! Everyone one raved of the food and ambiance :) It was a success for me! I often recommend Lokal to my clients, and will continue treating myself to the Lokal Experience.
(5)
Beatriz R.

Came here on a Sunday with a girlfriend of mine as she said that they had Bottomless Mimosa while you eat! So hey I am in!! How ever overall I am still on the fence about this place hence why I didn't give it 5 stars. Food was AMAZING hands down I ordered a Grilled Chicken breast sandwich that caught my eye on their brunch menu because it had Granny smith apples in it!! yes apples!! and I was like sweet mother chicken and apples?? let me try that out lol... It was DEEELISH!!!! almost so good that If they had a take out I would def order it! and let's say the fries were pretty damn good!! So no complaints here. The bottomless Mimosa's were OKAY.. Mostly tasted Orange juice so didn't get much of a nice buzz as I expected to since I down about 4 of them! lol Now here comes why I am knocking down the first star. The waitress was yes very friendly attentive at times when she had a chance, our drinks were constantly filled and what not BUT boy when it came down to pay what a hassle. Waited about 15 mins go get her to even notice that were ready to pay and never did she acknowledge us to only have us go up to the bar and try to pay. FIne no big deal. BUT my girl and I split tenders she paid 20 cash and I paid the rest on my card. It had seemed that the waitress was flustered or overwhelmed by everything and ended up charging my card TWICE! Tried to voided but the annoying part it lingered on my account for an entire WEEK and it was such an inconvenience because I wasn't able to touch that money and I needed it. She didn't even apologize or let me know she ran my card twice I just saw from behind the counter, and she had some type of supervisor come and void it. Second star I am knocking down is due to the lack of lighting like I dig the dark and mysterious vibe and it work to a certain degree. I need some light to eat and I hate eating in the dark I am sure nobody does. And the bathroom was near pitch black just not very pleasant. Overall I am sure I will revisit and hope for a lil better customer service because the food is no issue there!!
(3)
Lisa C.

What a great place.!!!!!! I went for brunch with 15 people and the service was great, the food awesome and the staff very friendly.. The owners themselves checked in on us and even bought us a round of holiday drinks I would recommend it to anyone. Please go visit them, you will not be disappointed. You will want to go back and bring your friends, so just save tome and bring them with you the first time :).
(4)
Maddi R.

I came there again for dinner, & the place smelled like a dirty bar. I lost my appetite.
(2)
Shirley L.

Decent meal for the price (with Groupon). We ordered kielbasa for app., NY Strip Steak and Scallop Pasta for entrees, and it comes with one daily desert which is Nutella mousse with chocolate ice cream. The kielbasa was delicious - nice and crunch casing, both beets and potato salad were good, loved the mustard! The steak was average - husband ordered it medium rare, but came more like medium. The taste was fine, but I will never order it with full price. I had scallop and mushroom pasta - the presentation was poor. It's basically a bowl of everything tossed together. I was disappointed to see tiny bay scallops instead of sea scallops. Lastly, the dessert - not bad, but not worth the full price. Overall, average place, average food (need to work on their presentation). Oh and if you like spending that much $ for food AND like to watch sports on TV.... This may be the place for you.
(2)
Danielle C.

No 7$ bottomless mimosas for me, sigh. They sound wonderful and if I am back in the neighborhood for them, you can count on me signing up! Dinner here was exactly A-OK. The atmosphere was wonderful and very conducive to playing catch up with friends. The perogi (walnut pesto) appetizer was really good. The sauce begged for some uncouth clean up with bread. It was really tantalizing! I had the stuffed pork for dinner. Good, but nothing outstanding. The mash potatoes with it were uniquely flavored and fantastic! Service was a bit slow, however, that did not take away from our experience. The prices were spot on (especially with Yelp EATS) and I would have no problem coming back! This could easily be an easy spot to stop in in the hood. Simple but good food, comfy surroundings.
(3)
Rochelle W.

Came here on a groupon for a pre-fix meal....portions and quality were good.
(4)
Dawn H.

I was in the Wicker Park neighborhood, and in hopes of finding a new favorite eating spot, I decided to try out Lokal. First and foremost, the food is outstanding: Pork Belly -- So delicious, tender, and flavorful. I wish I could have had a meal with just this dish alone. Duck Confit -- The skin was crispy, and the meat was juicy. The accompanying salad was fantastic. Goat Cheese Risotto -- A little too rich, but it was still very good nonetheless. I can definitely see why this is a hit Lokal entree. The atmosphere was very modern. Mixture of high tops and lounge chairs. The walls were adorned with artwork that a 5-year-old can make (splattered paint, etc). Yes. One of those places. The biggest bummer? The service. Or lack thereof. The 40 minutes it took for our Pork Belly appetizer to arrive gave me plenty of opportunity to contemplate the "laid back" vibe of the place. Don't get me wrong -- laid back is nice -- but I'm not sure why they allow this to compromise their service. We were a party of 2 and originally the only people there, so other patrons were not an issue (3 other parties showed up toward the end of our meal). We were never checked on again after we placed our order. We had to get up twice throughout our meal to go to the bar to ask for more water and drinks. It took 10 minutes to get the check after we had requested it. The whole lack of service was completely odd. Despite great food, the lack of service is unforgivable. Fortunately, there are many other places in the city that serve better food and provide better service. Lucky for me -- I won't be returning to Lokal again.
(2)
Mickey A.

Sunday brunch? I'm in. $7 bottomless mimosas? I'm in. Great company? I'm in. Chicago's first warm and sunny day after a week-long rainy, sometimes chilly, weather? I'm in. $7 bottomless mimosas? I'm in. Oh, wait. My initial thought was to order the french toast. After going back and forth, I decided with the french omelet with spinach, onion, and bacon. Because 95% of my table had ordered an omelet dish (some with similar items), our server and one other handing out our food had a slight mix-up that we all quickly resolved. We then went down to business. I honestly didn't think I could finish everything on my plate. There was so much of it including the hash browns. Perhaps it was the weather and/or the glasses of mimosas (which were always refilled) I had, but I was hungry with a capital H. I cleaned that plate like it was my last day on earth and totally not ashamed. My only regret was wearing jeans when I knew I'd be eating a ton. I'll be back. I don't have them often, but mimosas are my drink of choice when brunchin'...er, at least, where available. If you have a big group, there's a sort of hidden table in the back past the bathrooms. I didn't see it when I first walked in.
(4)
Amanda S.

eh. this place is a classic example of everything looking good on paper but leaving much to be desired. the smoked kielbasa was good, but it was literally charred sausage with a bit of mustard with too many sloppy caramelized onions on a slice of bread that got too soggy to be enjoyable. i had the fish of the day, which was salmon, with wilted spinach and tomato jam. the wilted spinach and salmon skin shined. tomato jam was not my jam, and something about the actual salmon meat was a little..fishy to me. pun aside, the fish was overwhelmingly gamey, which is highly unusual for salmon. the prairie pork tenderloin with mushroom cream, on the other hand, was wonderful. and that potato pancake? EXQUISITE. i would come here just for a few orders of those pancakes. dessert was the best part of the meal. apparently, it changes daily, but i had a nutella mousse swirled with a raspberry syrup. divine. i'd probably give this place another chance, but it's not high on my priority list.
(3)
M M.

Always drove past this place, and wondered how it was. If you have yet to eat here.....EAT HERE! I finally stopped in for dinner and our server was upbeat and sweet. I took advantage of the comp shot for checking in and the Vodka is good! Their drinks are strong, so you're definitely getting your money's worth there. The vibe all around was just chill, loved it. And my pork tenderloin meal was so tasty and fulfilling. I had high hopes for dessert and there was only one option but it was good. I'd like to see them offer more dessert options, though. Especially with all that vodka in the house!
(4)
Carolyn L.

I really enjoyed Lokal for brunch on a Saturday morning. The French toast was marvelous and the fried sausage I thought was great, but my boyfriend thought it was just ok. I also loved the truffle fries, but he wasn't a huge fan. Needless to say, I ate most of the food. I went there today (Tuesday) at 11:00 to take advantage of their weekday brunch special, but was sad to find that they were closed. Apparently Yelp and Google Offers has lead me astray :( They do not open until 6pm Tue-Thu. Brunch is only available Fri-Sun
(4)
Nataliaen R.

We found this place when Lilly's Q nearby was too busy to find us a table and we didn't regret it. We had some awesome European beers, $6 sandwiches and $8 burgers. Subway prices! (We usually eat out in River North. So we were very happy with the bill this time). Second, service was excellent, no wait, a very prompt waitress who made very good suggestions of what to order. The interior was nice, too. Lokal and our friends made our night awesome.
(4)
Autumn S.

Went there this weekend for a bachelorette party. The food was yummy and the waiter was awesome....even before he paid for all of us to have a champagne toast.
(4)
Lorilea Z.

After spending an extended weekend in Wicker Park, I can say this was probably the best food that we had at any point in our trip. We came in on Sunday for brunch based on the bottomless bloody marys ($9) and mimosas ($7). The bloodies are out of this world, but be forewarned - they are SPICY. I asked our waitress about the mix and she offered to let me switch to mimosas. I did not; I just wanted to know if the vodka was infused to make it so spicy (it's not)! And the food! Wow. Everything is so fresh and outrageously delicious! I got the potato pancakes, which come smothered with leeks, 2 eggs, and the most amazing dill creme fraiche you've ever tasted. I can't stop thinking about it 3 days later. My friend ordered the Leek Bacon Cheddar Scramble, which came with potatos and salad. These portions are HUGE, btw. Perfect for that weekend brunch hunger level. Highly recommend.
(5)
A R.

I went there this past Saturday for brunch. LOVE the atmosphere. Very creative decor and I loved the projector with the old cartoons on the wall. Our waiter was nice and he took good care of us. He was running around like a mad man as he was manning the entire floor but he still kept his eye on us. Bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's?? I'm there. And then there was the Ham Pretzel sandwich. Don't let the simple name deceive you. It was AMAZing. Seriously. They get their ingredients locally and even their meat. The ham looked like it was sliced fresh off the pig. And then combined with the saurkraut (can't go wrong), aoli sauce, fresh arugula, manchego cheese and the pretzel roll--I'm salivating as I write this. So you know when I go out to eat, it's a rule of mine that I try a bite of everyone's dishes, just so I can give a good review. And that I did. My one friend got the biscuits and gravy. Not traditional by any means. And the home recipe for their polish sausage was DElish. Lastly, the omelet my other friend got--goat cheese, portabello, spinach and some other things (can't remember the name) was quite amazing. Happy to say, my sandwich won. I will order again and I will be returning. **And on a side note...you know, when I see some of these reviews--Keely's 2 star review who is upset over some miscommunication on LOKal's website--it really annoys me. Was the food and the overall dining experience worth only 2 stars?? Come on. And Kim's 1 star over a Groupon snafu--please. It's a mom and pop restaurant with few employees. So much so, that the owner was refilling my mimosa and came over and spoke to our table. Do you know how bombarded restaurants get from Groupon? Really, if you're going to write a review that impacts the fate of a restaurant, please make sure you're not PMS'ing.
(4)
Diane H.

Great friends, great food, great experience. That pretty much sums up the meal I had at Lokal. Came here in honor of our Polish friend and to use a fantastic groupon. I am a self proclaimed picky eater, but Lokal won me over. Despite my own European heritage, I don't tend to prefer pork or encased meat (kielbasa, sausage, brats, etc.) but Lokal's Euro-fusion preparation was just what it took for even me enjoy them. Our party arrived right around our reservation time, but unfortunately our table wasn't ready yet. No biggie, we just hung out and chatted. After about 10 minutes of waiting, the bartender came over with a round of drinks to apologize for the wait. Not too long later we were seated at our table, with our Polish princess at the head of the table. The waitress was very attentive and helpful pointing out highlights of the menu. She even welcomed us with a round of polish vodka. A bartender also stopped by and greeted my friend with some Polish conversation. The meal was off to a great start. We studied the menu, formulating how to get the most out of the groupon while getting a Polish experience. We decided on three appetizers: truffle fries, kielbasa, and pierogies. The truffle fries were a surprise delight with shaved Parmesan on top and a dipping sauce on the side (I didn't try it but my friends enjoyed it). The kielbasa was very flavorful and the crunchy on the outside which I enjoyed. Again, I didn't try it, but my friends loved the potato salad that was a side of the kielbasa. The pierogies were also a hit. For the entrees, we got the fish of the day (arctic char), duck leg confit, prairie pork tenderloin, and summer kraut ribs. The arctic char was good, but was out shined by the other entrees. The duck leg confit was flavorful with the parsnip puree and apple compote. The pork tenderloin was in a decadent yet light mushroom sauce and very moist. The summer kraut ribs were fall off the bone good. Dessert was a nutella mousse with fruit sauce on the top. There was none left by the time we were done. Overall, the meal was decadent, but not heavy; I was satisfied, but not stuffed. When we looked up from licking our plates clean, we noticed that all the tables around us had been cleared away to make room for the impending dance party as the dj was setting up. Again, with the great customer service, no one tried to rush us from our table. Next time we'll have to hang around long enough to experience Lokal late night. The mix of great service and food is why Lokal earned 5 stars. Can't wait to come back and experience Polonia again!
(5)
Dan L.

If you find yourself in Wicker Park and want to go a little on the higher end of dining for the area, this is the place! Dill, Kielbasa, and Zywiec. Upscale polish made our night awesome. After being sat, we were given water out of a chilled glass bottle which was left on the table for us to refill ourselves. Always a plus since I tend to be a fish when dining. We started with the Kielbasa appetizer which was so good. It had marinated beets and a dill potato salad aside a generous amount of whole grain mustard. Oh and don't forget the caramelized onions on top of the sausage. Both entres were delish. I had the NY Strip which I could have licked the plate clean if it wasn't so 'upscale'. My fiancee had ordered the ribs, but those weren't going to be ready for an hour so she subbed it with the breaded pork chop with a homemade apple cole slaw and fries. The asparagus spears as a side were really good. Had the dessert for the day which was an ice cream topped with nutella and some kind of raspberry sauce. Perfect ender. Side note: The online menu is a bit different than the one we saw.
(5)
Phoebe T.

We went to Lokal yesterday only because we were hungry and happened to walk by the restaurant. We both ordered "french omelet your way" from the brunch menu, they were delicious!! Fresh brew coffee was good as well. The waiter was funny & nice, too but I can't remember his name. Overall, we had a good Sunday experience. If I have to say something negative about this place, that would be the music is kinda loud for the morning....I can barely hear the conversation.
(4)
Audre L.

This place is unassuming, but really solid. This is a review for brunch: $7 bottomless mimosas. So many good choices on the menu we had to tell our waitress twice that we needed more time to decide! I would recommed this place for a laid back brunch. It's just a little bit away from the Six Corners intersection so it's not so crazy and hectic. The place must be run by Polish people, so it has that homey kind of feel. Downsides: The restaurant can be a little dark, especially in the back, where seating is away from the windows. It was no problem for us, but still notably a little dark. The feel of the place is like a bar/restaurant more so than a restaurant/bar.
(4)
Julie Z.

Great Euro vibe in the heart of Bucktown. I came here for brunch and was lured in by the bottomless mimosas and bloodies. #1 It definitely feels like a Euro cafe. #2 The 2 women working were beyond nice. The blonde (I wish I got her name) was so sweet. The beer we ordered wasn't in-stock so she brought over 5 of the brands they had available so we could see them. She was so attentive. At the end of our meal, she asked if we would like her to change the receipt to show the beers we actually had b/c it states a different name even though they were the same price. She is diligent and of course we told her there was no need to change it but I appreciated her genuine sweetness. #3 I had the potato pancake with fresh dill creme fraishe. SO good. Side order of bacon - by far the thickest bacon I have ever had but it was awesome. #4 I enjoyed the bloody mary b/c it had the right amount of spice but my fellow diner preferred it to be of a thicker consistency. However, it's $9 for your first bloody and then $2 for every refill. Can't beat that. #5 On Friday night, they have a DJ. Sounds like a blast. Definitely need to check that out. So there are 5 great reasons to come here. Do it!
(4)
Coleman B.

I would offer 3 1/2 stars but rounding up for good measure and a overall positive experience. I went late for Brunch with some friends and really enjoyed the experience. Exceptionally priced $7 bottomless mimosas are an excellent find in this part of the city, and although they wont be the best mimosas you'll ever have, they are still quite enjoyable. The potato pancakes I ordered were wonderful. Overall it was 22 dollars for brunch, which is a fantastic price. I recommend it for those purposes. In a world where we certainly get what we pay for, this is a place of note!
(4)
AJ H.

LoKal is ALWAYS my go to brunch spot when I'm jonesing for a mimosa or two (or three) because they have the absolute cheapest bottomless mimosa deal in the city...SEVEN DOLLARS! You can't beat that! The only issue I have with the bottomless mimosa deal is that it only applies to the time you're eating and the mimosas are kinda weak...more OJ and bubbly. The shortcut around this is to order the bottomless champagne deal for $12 and have a friend order the mimosa deal and combine the two to get more bang for your buck. The brunch menu is solid, but inexpensive. They lack some of the standard favs I like, but the omelets are fresh and full of flavor. They also have a full bar and TV, so it's great on a Sunday afternoon when the football games are on. I also love LoKal for late night escapades because they always have the best DJs in town. However, the drinks are just ok in comparison to the DJs. I've never had dinner at LoKal, but I've heard it's subpar as well. SUNDAY BOTTOMLESS MIMOSA BRUNCH = LoKal
(4)
Matt N.

I had the tuna burger sand and a side of asparagus. Perfectly cooked and delicious. Good specials and good staff. This place is solid.
(5)
Anne C.

Came in with a Groupon and had a really solid meal here. I love the Eastern Eurpoean influence on the food here. It's like eating in a cooler more modern version of my Oma's dining room. We split the kielbasa appetizer, which was great and had a little something for everyone-- some yummy beets, potato salad, and whole grain mustard. My husband was not adventurous and tried the burger, while I ordered the pork tenderloin which I really enjoyed-- served with apples, radishes, and a potato pancake. It's a great little neighborhood spot!
(3)
Sonal S.

My friends and I decided to try Lokal for brunch and little did we know we'd end up with a screaming psycho waitress... Upon being seated the waitress (who wears a Gypsy looking thing on her head) asked us if we wanted anything to drink. All of us ordered coffee which she brought us and then she went to get the cream but never returned. After flagging down another waitress for creamer, our waitress finally arrived with the creamer which ended up being milk. When we asked her for creamer she said "We're out of it, but someones gone to the grocery store to pick some up". She even went as far as saying "milk is the same thing"... clearly she wasn't a coffee drinker. And how can a place that serves brunch be out of creamer? It's like serving bottomless mimosa's without the champagne. As we placed our orders my friend asked how the tuna salad was and the waitress actually said "let me check if it's fresh because sometimes it's not". Huh?? If you have to check if your food is fresh maybe we shouldn't be eating here! We placed our orders and when they brought us our food, only 2 of 3 dishes came out. After waiting a bit I asked where my dish was and only then did she proceed to tell me that they had to remake my dish because they didn't put the hollandaise on the side like I had requested. She said it would be "30 seconds"...yeah right! My dish came out after my friends were almost done with their meals. And when she brought the dish out, there was no comment about the dish being late or even offering something for the long wait. During the long wait, we noticed that they also messed up an order for the table next to us. Perhaps that's what they're going for or they're trying to start a new trend?? We asked for our check and to our surprise the waitress added an automatic $9 gratuity for our party of 3! When we asked her about the automatic gratuity she said it was a policy and that they started doing it because they were having some problems. Really? What kind of problems could they be having that they'd add gratuities to their patrons checks?? Could it be that maybe she was the problem? If this was a new policy it might make sense to state it on the menu so that people aren't surprised when they get their check. And isn't the industry standard to add an automatic gratuity to a large party, not a party of 3!?!? After my experience through the meal, I refused to put down a gratuity where the amount was dictated to me and the service was horrible. It's the principle, you don't treat your customers like crap and then expect them to reward you! We all paid cash and my friends offered a small gratuity for their meals. As we were walking out the door, the waitress comes running out behind us to tell us that we didn't pay our entire bill, meaning the full gratuity. I proceeded to tell her that I intentionally didn't put a gratuity down because of the service, or lack there of, that I received. At that point she turned into a psycho waitress and started yelling at me. She accused me of being the one that has been coming into the restaurant screwing up their checks and when I tried to tell her that this was my first time there (and last) she didn't believe me. She said "I've seen you here before and you've been causing all these problems". She continued to yell and didn't care that there was a line of people waiting to be seated. Wow...the three of us were so shocked we didn't know what hit us! After collecting ourselves we decided to go back in to talk to the manager...hoping that she wasn't it. The manager was so friendly and kind. She apologized and offered to comp our brunch another time. We told her that we just wanted to make her aware and that it was a shame that someone like that was representing her and Lokal. Even the manager was surprised about the "automatic gratuity" because apparently it isn't a policy. The manager then proceeded to give us our money back, which was way above what we expected. So thank you for that. To sum it up....if you want cream-less coffee, meh food, surprise gratuities added to your check, and a psycho waitress, then Lokal is your place!
(1)
Angelica P.

Overall really good food. The pierogi appetizer had really good flavor but lacked insides. It definitely needed more potato stuffing, it was way too thin. I had the fish and my boyfriend had the steak, both were extremely good and decent portions too. The waiter was nice and helpful so I'd definitely go back. They should expand their dessert menu. They only offer one dessert of the day and if you bought a groupon deal, dessert is included so you're kind of stuck with whatever they have that day.
(4)
Roberto M.

We went last night (Saturday, May 5) after the movies. The place has a nice vibe to it and on the way in a couple on the way out told us the food was great and recommended the bison grass vodka. I am a big fan of vodka and can tell you they have a pretty decent selection (the bison grass did not disappoint). Other people in our party wanted coffee, but for that you probably had better look elsewhere - it's just an add on to the menu, and that's ok with me anyways. We also had dessert (vanilla ice cream with nutella and raspberry reduction) - the size was good, not too big and not too small, and the flavor was very interesting. I have a wish to go back to try the duck leg confit or maybe the seared char. The menu options all sound great and are not your ordinary run of the mill things.
(4)
Lyn C.

I love this place for brunch!! (Haven't been here for any other meals) They have bottomless mimosas and we had a ton of fun every time we came here. It's pretty small but they play good music and have awesome artwork on the walls. We never had to wait except for one time because we were waiting on the last person in our party and couldn't be seated until then so it was our own fault. The staff is all super friendly and kudos to them for putting up with our shenanigans. I always went with the french omelet your way and loved it and everyone I went with always liked their meals. No complaints.
(5)
Cathy B.

Seriously, I have no idea what some of the low-star reviewers are talking about here. We came here tonight for a Saturday evening dinner - the service was attentive and enthusiastic, the food was creative and delicious, and the wine list and menu was interesting to read and consider, as well as order from. We loved every dish we had. As a serious fan of pieroghies, I wasn't so sure about ordering them out, but the spinach pieroghies here were light and airy and obviously lovingly prepared. Our endive salad was so interesting - every bite had a combination of sweet and fruity with slightly bitter -- just delicious and intriguing. And our entrees were so delicious that we actually didn't particularly want to share. Highly recommended. Great on the food, great on the menu, and low on the pretentiousness, which is a nice change for Wicker Park. Note -- the online reservation making service is a bit confusing, as you receive a message that suggests that your request didn't go through. But a human emails you the next day to confirm, so that's a nice touch.
(4)
Kori E.

Great brunch spot! I came here this past Sunday and it hit the spot. I would have given it 4 stars had the service been up to snuff, but unfortunately it was lacking. I had the egg sandwich and it was quite tasty! The sausage had a lot of flavor, the eggs were cooked perfectly and the bread was super soft. The side of potatoes were excellent! Im not usually one for potatoes, but these were spicy and roasted perfectly. My friend had the biscuits and gravy, and it was really good as well. It had a nice spicy kick to the gravy. Unfortunately, the service wasnt the best :/ I had to ask 3 times for cream for my coffee and it was never brought. We had to ask another waitress for ketchup and my cream and it took seriously 10 minutes. Its a very laid back scene, but that doesnt mean the service needs to be equally as slow. This wont keep me from coming back though. I think I want to check out dinner next time...
(3)
Sean M.

Excellent food, great vibe, modern edge decor. Started going using groupon, and now go all the time. Owners and employees are all friendly and work their tails off when busy. Can't wait to go back. Everything on the menu that I've had has been outstanding. Nice work all.
(5)
Emilee J.

Used a Groupon and had a great experience. Enjoyed the pickle/cheese appetizer and loved my mushroom pasta. My boyfriend was less pleased with his steak, but overall we both had a a nice time and want to go back to try a few more dishes.
(4)
Wesley K.

Went with the Groupon (one appetizer, two entrÃ©es, and a dessert) on a weekday night. First nice surprise: $4 drafts on Tuesday night. Selection on tap is very limited, but they have both Lagunitas IPA* and Allagash white which was perfect for our tastes. *Though. the Lagunitas was a bit flat when we were there: the waitress noticed that and asked me to try it first, and then gladly got me something else. We ordered the grilled calamari to start, which was very tasty but a little lacking on the calamari. My date got the seared tuna salad while I got the strip steak, both of which were good. The frites that came with the steak were delicious. The dessert that night was a hazelnut mousse with berries, which was also very good (if a little strangely presented: in a stemless wine glass?). All-in-all, the food was good, but nothing terribly special. The prices seem reasonable. We had a table in the front, and the environment was nice: low-light, but casual, and not too loud. Our service was great. I definitely think we'll be back: perhaps not for dinner, but probably beer and frites. It's especially a nice place to have in our back pocket if we're looking for a spot and are in the area.
(4)
Hellen D.

It was OK. I came for the endless mimosas during the weekend so it was packed. I would have rated it higher except that the mimosas so VERY weak.
(3)
Meredith K.

Its been awhile since we were at one of our favorites. Well....now its not. I don't know if its new mgmt or what but this is not the place I fell in love with. For starts they moved a bunch of hightops in the front where there used to be regular tables. Does this mean you're going more for a bar than for a restaurant? They had a movie playing over the bar area but it was an episode of Planet Earth. You know the one where the foxes catch and eat the baby chicks? Yea, gross!! The menu changed. It is more like bar food now. So we each got sandwiches. They were ok but such a disappointment from what they were previously serving. My boyfriend had the ham and cheese which was so rich that he could only eat 1/2. I had the cheese and mushroom. It was ok but nothing that I couldn't make at home. They definitely changed chefs. I think our star waiter is gone too. The bartender took care of us. He was nice but definitely not the personality that we experienced before! Also it was dead and yet it was slooooooooow. So we went home without dessert. Boo hoo!
(2)
Grace N.

Being a stickler for pronunciation, I heard the server call it "LO-cal" (accent on the first syllable), which makes sense because it's really only worth visiting if you're a local. Aside from being bottomless, the bloody mary was kind of bland. And bloody maries can make or break a brunch spot for me. Since it advertises itself as a contemporary Polish restaurant, I tried the Polish sausage rye sandwich, which was much better on paper than in my mouth. I had to hunt for the sausage pieces in my sandwich, which were skimpy. Only the fried mini pickles made the dish stand out. However, there was no wait on a Saturday morning and service was friendly.
(3)
Mak J.

Pretty tight place for brunch, considering the whole "all you can drink" mimosas and bloodys. This is not a thing we have in Indianapolis, so I was all in, despite my hangover's impediments. The biscuits and gravy were good, but said hangover had a different opinion. My experience was mostly limited. But because I ate very slowly, I had a longer window for the bottomless mimosas since the special is only valid while you are ordering/eating. I believe they are still quite reasonably priced thereafter though. My cousin said she enjoyed her omelet as well. I would have liked to try the pork belly and eggs on a day when I was not so much into the stages of alcohol withdrawals and in need of seriously heavy grease. Also I enjoyed the atmosphere and service. An all around good experience.
(4)
Tera D.

I went to Lokal for Sunday Brunch and was very pleasantly surprised. Although I can see all of the things mentioned in the poor reviews happening there, we must have gotten lucky or picked the right food, because everything was great for us. We had the Nutella Frites as an appetizer of sorts, which was a ridiculous but delicious decision. It's Nutella and bananas sandwiched between amazingly deep fried french toast, and topped with strawberries and whipped cream. YUM. For our entrees we had the Biscuits and Gravy and the Lokal Sandwich. The Biscuits and Gravy was the standout, but both were very good. And of course you can't go wrong with bottomless Bloody Mary's :)
(4)
Mandi P.

This is a funky little place. We ventured into Lokal a couple of weekends ago for a quick drink with friends. The inside reminds me of one of the typical little bars/clubs you will find in Europe. The bartenders are harrassingly funny. One big minus is the lack of rum choices. I ONLY drink dark rum. However, it was a fun enough place that I was happy with water while my friends indulged in the vodka! The owner was there the night we were there and she was very friendly to all of us. All of the staff was very nice for that matter! We didn't try the food, but the menu looks very interesting!!! We will definitely be back in to try out the food!!!
(3)
Shirley Z.

Bottomless mimosas! Gotta love that! Swung by this place for a quick girls brunch. Right off the bat we loved the contemporary-hipster decor & the bottomless brunch idea. ( checkout the wall of discs. I want that in my house ) We ordered a few things to share & these are my thoughts: * Smoked Salmon: Salmon was a bit too fishy. Most of us did not like it. * Grilled Calamari Salad: I loved it but a few friends did not like the char grill taste. * Berkshire Pork Belly & Eggs: The best thing we had. Everything really complimented each other. Overall pretty happy with the experience. :)
(4)
A H.

This place is strange. I can't tell what kind of place it's trying to be, and the vibe is a little off. We came in on a Friday night, and the place was just about empty. Our server was kind and quick while ordering drinks, but then the restaurant started filling up. It took about 40 minutes for us to receive a burger and chicken sandwich. We were told they overcooked the chicken, and had to start over. Who overcooks a chicken breast? The food was mediocre, and didn't make up for the wait time or lack of service. We were comped our drinks, and given a discount on the food. However, I don't think we'll be back again. Too bad! This place is so close to home.
(2)
Natalie M.

Lokal is, well was for me a 5-sensory experience of bliss. I went for brunch..on a saturday! I didn't even know brunch was an all weekend thing! and the first thing I noticed was the incredible decor: chic, contemporary, open with large windows and lots of light, trendy with impressive black & white oversized paintings. Shortly after taking in my surroundings my date and I were greeted by the host. a European girl, with legs for days that quite likely models on the side. We sat, I ordered an omlet with sundried tomatoes and a bottomless mimosa, for $7! First, our server who was equally as attractive as the host never let our glasses get more than half empty before she was refilling them. Truly bottomless. In fact after our meal was over and we had paid and we were sitting and chatting on where to venture out to next, she continued to offer more beverages! To the food! I'm not a foodie so I can't adequately describe how incredible the omlette was but suffice to say it was as delicious as the servers were beautiful. The flavor of the veggies were so vivid and fresh and the sundried tomatoes left the most perfect aroma on my pallet. My date had the french toast with blueberries and strawberries, I had a bite and it was truly something out of a dream. Hands down this is the spot, for brunch anyway that will fill every sense with pleasure. As a side note I think they might deliver because part way through our meal another model/server emerged from the back with a plated and bagged meal...that may have been an employee meal but I'm hoping was delivery bc in all my rainy night pizza eating days no one has ever come to my door more delicious than my food..
(5)
Nicole A.

We went here for breakfast. It is small inside, but cute. It might have been a little too early in the morning for the dubstep that was playing, but the food was delicious and fresh. The server was attentive and efficient. I got the LOKal Sandwich and it was amazing. I would highly recommend it. The prices were a little steep, but it was top quality food.
(5)
Megan D.

This is my new neighbor hood go to spot!! A gf and I went there last night for dinner bc there was a 45 minute wait at southern and we wanted to get our eat on. So we walk in to lokal and discover they have a 36 dinner for two special. 1 app, 2 entrees, 1 dessert. We had the calamari which came with a nice spicy red salsa. Very good. We ordered the risotto and a the duck confit. The risotto was fantastic rich creamy and the truffle and asparagus really accent it well. The duck was cooked to perfection not greasy at all with lovely cranberry spice quinoa and greens sooo good. My friend and I cleaned our plates. The dessert was so so but that was ok we were full. The service was impeccable the ambiance was perfect, I am never going to Southern again Lokal is worth the extra 2 block walk.
(5)
Tricia G.

2 star was for the time we had to wait for an omelet.... 45 minutes and 3 star for service. Meh.... Maybe everyone there was having a bad day. Food.... Meh... Not that great. Nothing special. Waited another 10 min to get our check. Hopefully dinner or lunch would be better.
(2)
M L.

Today was the first truly beautiful Sunday weather-wise in Wicker Park this year, and I celebrated by venturing out to Lokal with a new friend for a mid-day brunch. A short stroll from the Damen/North/Milwaukee intersection, you can't ask for a more convenient location. What really lured me away from my Sunday morning bacon ritual to try a new restaurant was the promise of bottomless mimosas. What better way to usher in the glory of Spring than OJ and champagne? Every time my glass was half-full, I found my loyal waitress right beside me pouring me back to the brim. Once you stop eating, refills are $2, but I was falling out of my chair by the time the bill came, so all was well. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Pita, which was a spiced and grilled tuna fillet, singed gently on the outside and nice and moist and pink on the inside, tucked in with a tangy horseradish sauce and lots of greens. The flavor was phenomenal. I'm not really salad man (it's rabbit food) but it came with some more greens on the side, and I couldn't help but devour them. On the side, we also tried the truffle fries, which were about as good as fries can get and topped with slivers of a potent and tasty cheese. It got a little sunny through the windows, but the breeze was generous and welcome. It's as cramped as every other restaurant in the neighborhood, but that's part of the charm. Though the price is a little steep, you get a lot of food, and it tastes great. I'll be back.
(5)
Neha N.

I've only come here during dinner. The bf got mussels as an appetizer and said they were buttery and decent. I got the only vegetarian entree, the mushroom pasta. Sucked. A bowl of spaghetti, mushrooms, tomatos, and some olive oil. So bland..... I felt like I could have easily thrown this together at home and made it tastier by putting some sort of seasoning. I asked for parmesan, and finally dumping that in there, it was edible. $14 for that, ridiculous. The bf got the kraut ribs and had to ask for barbeque sauce because it was so bland. After he slathered it on, he said it tasted good. But cmon, ANYTHING with bbq sauce tastes good. Dessert was the surprise of the night. It was a hazelnut cream with berries. They only have one dessert a night, so just hope it's a good one.
(2)
Tim H.

Upscale Polish is tasty! This place is quaint and contemporary and the service was awesome. Everyone was so friendly answering questions and making suggestions. I would have to say it was very unexpected, especially since it was suggested by a friend via Groupon. The food is delicious. I ordered the ribs which were prepared perfectly. Fall-off-the bone perfect. Only a fork please! I will most definitely be back to Lokal. Reading the other reviews the brunch looks pretty awesome.
(4)
Eileen Z.

Loving the idea of playing classics behind the bar (see photos), reminds me of Foreign Cinema out in SF, but on a much smaller scale. And indoors. Favorite: Ginger-carrot soup... yum! Tomato lovers, the oven tomatoes in the goat cheese risotto are amazing. Balances out the kick from the goat cheese, and not tart like some places make them to taste.
(4)
Tatawan P.

I have been here twice; on both occasions using Google Deals coupons (now maxed to 2 per a customer). This place is now in my confirmed list of good restaurants. I look forward to coming to this place again, happily to pay full price and confident to expect great service and amazing food. Food-Pork Belly- "wow" was the word my date said upon putting a piece in his mouth. Cooked perfectly, and had the right amount of fat/meat ratio. Some pork belly I have had in the past is too fatty where you just feel guilty. This one is not that, flavored perfectly served with some sort of pickled? leafy green that brought the flavor up a notch to a great pork belly salty/ sour balance. Duck Confit- I have had confit before but this is pretty amazing here. I'm starting to think I have only had it prepared incorrectly in the past or Lokal's chef is ingenious how he prepares it. Crispy outside, incorporating a burnt skin into the flavor, juicy meat.. combined with pears hinting star anise spices, and a sauce that marries it all together in an innovative flavor. Presentation is great- plates are balanced and colorful in the whole composition. Vibe- Chill, urban-hip, modern, comfortable. I have only been here on weekday nights for dinner and there wasn't too much a crowd. Service- I had the same guy as my waiter both times and we was great- attentive and I liked that he took pride in the food he brought out. Seems to have good memory as he remembered me the second time I came in. I am excited to see more to come out of this great spot!
(5)
Alan L.

$7 bottomless mimosas. Yes. That alone is incentive enough to come visit Lokal. The menu manages to strike the perfect balance between being overwhelming and providing plenty of variety. It actually took me quite a while to decide. Or maybe I was purposely indecisive so that I could take advantage of the bottomless mimosa. I ended up choosing the duck confit and the duck was really good, especially with the poached egg on top. The apple pieces on the side.... meh. But the meal is definitely very filling and by the time I was finished, I was ready to go back to my apartment to take a nap. I do want to come back again to try all the other things on the menu (the biscuits and gravy, the leeks bacon cheddar scramble) that sound delicious.
(4)
magic g.

So I hear, finally a high-end pol-ish place opens up. I get excited :) Ok, the decor is nice, service very friendly, menu ... not as imaginative as KrÃ³lewskie JadÅ‚o in NY, but still interesting. Especially drinks, I liked my Parisian but will be back to try others. (suggestion: polish martini: ZubrÃ³wka with apple juice). Food ... it was good, especially based pork. Winnershnicel too. Small portions,, under $20 for entrees. From traditionally, we've tried placki (potato pancakes), but $8 for _one_? The music was a bit too loud to have a conversation, but that was Friday evening, when younger crowd depends and it becomes more of a lounge then a restaurant.
(4)
heidy b.

Definitely highlight was the bottomless mimosa. At only $7, it definitely makes up for the meh pork belly and poached eggs entree. The pork-belly was kind of tough, not sure why but I was expecting a melt-in-your mouth kind of pork experience. The service was excellent even though the place was packed! Will be back to try out other entrees.
(3)
Sarah S.

3.4 So I definitely have some mixed feelings about this place. The food is good, it really is. I've gone there for brunch and dinner, and had delicious meals in both cases. The problem is the service. I've never really seen it so full that I can see it as a justifiable issues, but it's nearly impossible to get anyone's attention. The servers aren't rude, they just sit behind the bar and chat and text. Most of the time it hasn't been a HUGE issue, just be a little more proactive and arm-wavey when you need something, but the time I went for dinner it took well over an hour to get our appetizers (we got the mussels, in case you were wondering). The ambiance and decor seems a little... confused, but I like that it's on the smaller side and not packed beyond capacity. It makes it feel nice and neighborhoody. Must try: *Smoked Salmon (egg bagel, dill cream cheese, caviar, greens) *Potato Pancake (two eggs, dill creme fraiche, caramelized onion) Run away! Goat Cheese Risotto (aparagus, butternut squash, truffle and shaved pecorino). I LOVE me some risotto, and will pretty much order it every chance I get. This risotto was the most undercooked I've ever had in my life, bummer! It was the crunchy, uncooked kind, not the "well this isn't to my taste" undercooked.
(3)
Mary T.

LoKal (low-kale): a Polish word meaning a cafe or gathering place* After hearing about the $7 bottomless mimosas, it was decided that we would tackle this place for brunch. I will say one thing about the mimosas, don't expect to eat and linger at your table boozing it up on mimosas. On the menu they ask you to kindly move it to the bar after your meal for $2 refills. Can't say I blame them, the deal is quite a steal. Service was attentive and friendly; they were quick to refill empty mimosa and water glasses. I wavered between the french toast and the ahi sandwich, and in the end got the tuna with a side of potatoes. The sandwich was served on a pita with tomato, greens, and horseradish creme and accompanied with a small side of mixed greens. The sandwich was really good, the tuna was cooked perfectly and the horseradish sauce gave it a great flavor. I gobbled it and my potatoes up in no time. The place is bright and modern, there's a lot of white, which pops nicely against the exposed brick. We were really shocked that this place wasn't busier for brunch, especially considering the mimosa deal. At 11 on a Sunday, it was virtually empty when I walked in. By the time we left it had filled in a bit, but there still wasn't a wait for a table. * This was what one of the staff told us, although I might be mistaken; the mimosas make the details a bit fuzzy.
(4)
Rhonda G.

All you need to know is this: $7=Bottomless mimosas. AND They don't trick you with 95% OJ either so I felt like this was a pretty good deal. The level of importance of everything else in this review will now decrease significantly. The food: My eggs were cooked as I asked so I can happily report that nothing went wrong there. NOW, about those potato pancakes.The potato pancakes were pretty much just hash browns, which would be cool if I actually wanted hash browns and not the deliciousness that is the potato pancake. I ate them because I was hungry and I wanted to keep getting my mimosas BUT I wasn't thrilled with them by any means. Will I go back? Umm, YES...bottomless is my new favorite word. I'll just get french toast or a classic sandwich. Service was quick (they kept the drinks coming) and friendly. PS.Bottomless as long as you're eating so eat sloooow. .
(4)
Ryan L.

What do two young, strapping, devilishly handsome men like myself and Badonkeycakes do for fun in the city? Brunch. And bottomless mimosas, of course. For $7. It's really the only way. How do you pronounce the name? Do you really accentuate the LOK! and devalue the -al? Is it spoken like local? Or lo-cal? From now on, to avoid confusion, I'll just tell peeps I'm going to that "$7 bottomless mimosa place". Their version of biscuits and gravy is pretty tasty. Topped with sausage and spiced grilled tomatoes, the dish was good. A healthy chunk of potatoes on the side also hit the spot. Badonkey got some crazy fruity Nutella dish that looked like a giant mound of sugar. J/K lol. It had caramelized banana frites and raspberry sauce, quite sweet. It was all reasonably priced, as well (~ $8 i believe). The service was hit and miss. Our waitress was very nice and usually was on top of keeping our mimosas filled, but when we finished our food it seemed like she was trying to hurry us out of there. She asked right away if we wanted our check and I was all, "Slow your roll, one more round please." I didn't actually say slow your roll, but you get the point. The place was only half-full, so the place wasn't hurting for new tables. I was confused as to why she would hustle two such dazzling men like ourselves out of there so fast. I'll be generous and round up to four, but it's really more like a 3.52 rating. I'd definitely go back, when I'm in the quantity-over-quality mood.
(4)
Lauren B.

I came here for Sunday brunch while visiting Chi-town with my two girlfriends. We are always down for unlimited mimosa brunches, no matter what city we are in. This place did not disappoint. The decor is super cute and hip, and the computer dj was pretty dope. Most importantly, the $7 mimosas were pretty free-flowing. After I flagged our waitress down the first two times, she was very attentive to our refills from then on. The food was also delish, with extra crispy bacon, my favorite. My ex-Kosher friend actually tried bacon for the first time in her life at this place!! Towards the end of our brunch, a guy named Peter (the owner?) came and sat at our table to jibber jabber. We were feeling pretty good at this point and he was entertaining to talk to. Being out-of-towners, he recommended we go to the May festival (I think that's the name) down the street. We followed his suggestion and had a great time there. Only downside... our waitress gave us her sky-diving business cards at the end. Kind of weird and not really the right setting. But, she was cute so whatevs.
(4)
Shradha A.

I can still taste the flavor of the amazing goat cheese risotto 4 days after eating here! I first discovered them at one of the Yelp events, but never got a chance to try them out because they were so popular and the lines were so long. Took my bestie here this weekend and we tried the salad, pierogi but most of all really enjoyed the risotto and couldn't stop stuffing ourselves way after we were stuffed! One more note I'd like to make - service was really good!!
(4)
Jill D.

Everything was yum- especially the vodka.
(4)
Chicago V.

First the restaurant name. Lokal does not mean locally sourced ingredients like a farm to table kinda thing. So that kinda dampened my expectations. When I asked a Polish friend of mine how people use the word in Polish, I was told lokal is slang used to refer to a bar or pub that is local to the community. I thought, that makes sense. To Polish people! Now the food. The mussels and pork belly appetizers were delicious. The broth in the mussels was spot on! The pork belly was seasoned and cooked perfectly. I had the fish of the day. It came with asparagus and risotto. The fish came with about an inch and a half of sharp bone. When I called the server's attention to it, I was told it can't be helped because fishes have bones. You know, like when you order chicken and it came with feathers because chicken has feathers or the pork belly came wiith nipples still on it because, well, pork belly has nipples. Yeah. That's not going to fly. The risotto was just so so. Also, the fish came in three strips instead of one whole fillet and one part was burnt and not edible. Maybe they were cooking my order when the whole dining place smelled of something burning. Service was above average. I am giving it 3 stars for the mussels and pok belly otherwise, it would be a meh!
(3)
Brett F.

$7 bottomless mimosas, you say?? Sign me up!! Four lovely ladies a-brunchin', copious champagne mimosas, gloriously hot coffee and a few tempting dishes later, LOKal managed a solid but could-be-improved-on score on our admittedly critically tough brunch-o-meter. So yes, for starters, the name sucks. LOKal? Pronounced like 'locale' but looks like a variation of either Yokel (as in low country), Low Cal (as in diet) or Local (as in right by your house). The confusion is unnecessary and the name is stupid. There, I said it. Hey, at least the brunch manages to shine where monikers surely do not. Three solid stars for both food and service alike. A for-the-table starter of LOKal's blueberry lavender blintzes failed to wow by leaning a bit too hard on the lavender scented tip, while a heavy-handed glop of the blueberry sauce just left these poor Betty Blintzes swimming in thick, black, overly fragranced sauce. A dish going unfinished at our brunch-lovin' table is typically the barometer in our group, and this app registered a flop. Fortunately main plates of nummy, golden whole wheat belgian waffles topped with candied walnuts and glorious, fluffy omelettes filled with goat cheese, portabella mushrooms and punchy watercress saved the day!! Totally terrific and utterly eggscellent all around. Would have appreciated a bit more awareness from our server on the mimosa front, however. There is nothing more glorious or appreciated than a server that just 'gets it' and doesn't even require the slightest of head-nods when needing a refill of our fluted glasses. Such can not be said of our slightly overwhelmed LOKal Yokel. Heh. See what I did there? True, he was disappointingly a bit slow on the bubbles and when even wild gesticulations didn't solve the problem, I knew we were sunk on getting drunk. Ambiance wins big points, LOKal is cute as can be and the sexy date night potential here is apparent. Hook me up with the braised short rib + goat cheese crÃ¨me fraÃ®che, a truly endless supply of champers, zippy service and we're good to go at this Wicker Park locale. I mean local. I mean lo-cal. You know what I mean?
(3)
Andre W.

$7 Bottomless Mimosas or Bloody Marys...nuff said!!!! Walked in to a nice modern decor with exposed brick wall where the bar is. The friendly waitress happily showed us to our seats and got the mimosas coming after our request. Short brunch menu, but full of interesting things. I went with the LOKaL sandwich which included basted eggs, polish sausage, grilled tomatoes & arugula. The sandwich was bigger than what I thought it would be and actually it looked like two sandwiches. Very tasty and fulfilling! They have a pretty friendly staff here and they made sure we had everything we needed. They kept the mimosas coming as I felt a slight buzz coming on. The waitress told us they have a pretty good dinner and play nice music. I see this being a key spring/summer spot.
(4)
Angie M.

Slow service is no-go service in my book. Especially when we're dealing with a bottomless mimosa brunch. The champs needs to be constantly flowing. Period. If you can't make that happen, I WILL be an unsatisfied customer. Let's be honest: When you're advertising a $7 bottomless mimosa or bloody mary brunch, you BEST be keeping those glasses filled. To the brim. At all times. Or better yet, just bring me a pitcher and I'll pour my own drink. People are coming in for the champagne, not the fairly standard brunch menu, so make it worth our while and keep us nicely lubricated. //End Rant. So while I clearly had a bone to pick with the lack of mimosa service, I actually did enjoy the ambience and most of my food at LOKal. Dieters rejoice: You can get a nice, big egg white omelet with lots of veggies at LOKal. Me like! Honestly, I didn't even miss the cheese in my mushroom and tomato egg white omelet it was so good. Add a small pile of breakfast potatoes on the side and you've got a meal that's not too shabby. I would avoid the blueberry blintzes though. Our party of 4 just kinda poked at em. Maybe too heavy on the lavender notes? It was kind of like eating potpourri. I wanted our cute, bearded hipster server to be with it. I SO did. Had he been on point instead of hurried, harried and helpless, brunch at LOKal would have been pretty epic, but instead he never really connected with our table. He ran off before we could ask questions, left our coffee mugs woefully unfilled and just seemed super stressed. I almost felt sorry for him because he seemed like a nice enough guy, but really... get with the program, eh?
(3)
Leilo P.

After reading the stellar reviews I had to try this place and I was impressed, happy, and buzzed! How can the mimosas be so cheap!?! It was bottomless mimosas for $6 while we were eating, so we ate slow ;) I had the Ahi Tuna Wrap and it was delicious! It tasted fresh and had the perfect amount of pepper. I had a side salad. My friend had the steak sandwich that he slurped down! I'm definitely returning soon and having that steak sandwich. The server checked in on us a few times and eventually gave us a bottle of mimosa mix and walked away. I think she may have done that because it was empty and she didn't want to put any extra effort however I thought it was an awesome gesture and kept drinking. Everyone should try LOKAL, great spot for dates, large groups, small groups, and cheap alcoholics!
(4)
Adam K.

Weak. Sauce. Used a Travelzoo deal for 2 entrees, 2 desserts, and 2 drinks. I went with the NY Strip and the wife went with the goat cheese risotto. Entrees were decent - nothing to write home about and certainly not worth $23 and $15. The pickles and cheese plate appetizer is a solid choice and well executed, but everything else just fell flat. Service was terrible - it seemed like they only had 2 people running between tables, and it took a solid 10 minutes to get a beer. While were eating, we noticed the two tables next to us were using Groupon and LivingSocial deals (or maybe Gilt). Definitely seems to be a restaurant that's trying to drum up business; I just wish they had put their best foot forward for all of the potential customers.
(2)
Amy C.

The lowdown: Great food, but the service and atmosphere are a little rough around the edges. I'm giving 4 stars because of the food. I came here with my boyfriend on a Saturday night to use a Groupon deal from a while back (1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert). We ordered the pork belly appetizer, the goat cheese risotto and trout entrees, and their dessert special - a tasting of a fruit dessert, ice cream and some chocolate mousse. We ordered a bottle of syrah with the meal. The food was delicious- no complaints there. Each dish had unique flavor combinations, the portions were just the right size to be filling without overdoing it, and was artfully presented. The wine was also quite good. The service was good, although waitress brought my dinner out before I was finished eating the appetizer, which I didn't appreciate, given that we ordered a bottle of wine and were planning to take our time. The atmosphere I'd describe as not quite sure what it wanted to be. It had a modern, warehouse-feel with concrete floors and hard edges - not the most cozy place - not a place to kick back for an extended period. That said, I'd probably come back if another Groupon were to turn up - or maybe just for drinks and a small plate or two.
(4)
B T.

Today, I decided to try Lokal bottomless mimosa brunch with friends to celebrate a friend's birthday. The wait staff upon arrival was very rude and had nasty attitudes. Which made my group of friends feel very uncomfortable. I understand Lokal has a policy for the entire party to be in attendance before they can actually sit, this was fine but not once were we asked for a beverage or to take a peek at the menu, upon the arrival of the remaining people. Once we did get our seats, the extremely rude waitress never gave us her name, had a very aggressive and nasty demeanor, made us feel as we were rush to eat. Overall, I nor the group of 11 will be back for there brunch or back period to Lokal, that was a horrible experience especially since it was for a special occasion.
(1)
Annie D.

For months, we've walked by Lokal literally daily, thinking "We should try that place sometime." Then along came Groupon and that $55 entire meal for 4 deal - just what we needed to nudge us to make a reservation. The vibe that night -- a Wednesday at 8 -- was kind of strange, as we were almost alone, but the bartender/waiter was great, the meal was fresh and hot, and the portions were enormous. We ate and drank too much, and will definitely be back. Thanks, Lokal!
(4)
Kensey W.

i like the food here. had the surek, pork belly, goat cheese risotto, pork shank, and truffle fries. the surek was tangy and delicious with a side of mashed potatoes that were kind of whatever. the pork belly came with a tangy sauce and lentils. that was pretty tasty but the pork belly was too lean. i can see why everyone likes the goat cheese risotto. it is rich but i love that and it was better than i even expected, especially since i almost never get risotto. the pork shank was super tender and juicy. the fries were good and came with a garlic aioli that was way too garlicky. oh and they only had one dessert, which was a mini apple-pie type thing with ice cream. that was okay. oh and there was also a vodka flight that was pretty fun. that's probably one of the things to get when you're here. overall, the food was good. the place was empty though. i though service was really good. got checked on a lot and our waitress was nice. the menu is small though and i tried everything i wanted to, so i don't think i'll be back. but i do think this place is worth a try.
(4)
Andrea R.

I first heard the name of this restaurant when they were sponsoring a Yelp bash and thought I heard "Low Cal." I assumed this be a good fit for my eating healthy New Year's Resolutions. Hmm...not quite! While it turns out there's not many healthy options on LOKal's menu, the food is tasty enough that it's well worth breaking any New Year's Resolutions. Perhaps many people in Chicago had the New Year's Resolution of eating out less because LOKal was near empty on a Saturday night. It's kind of nice to have a restaurant almost to yourself, but it was almost too quiet. I had my eye on the halibut or the seared tuna steak, but they were out of both of them. Hmmm- must have been all those people! Instead I opted for the seared scallop dish served on top of a rich yet delish pasta. Hubby went for the bizon, which was quite tasty as well, but he wasn't a fan of the sausage pickled cabbage slaw that came with it. And our dining companions shared a very impressive looking Meat Lover's Trio, bound to put a smile on any carnivore's face. Oh, and silly me...I forgot the apps! Interesting cabbage cakes, a beet puree soup that my husband couldn't get enough of and the roasted beet salad (yum). We also ended the meal with a slice of cheesecake, which wasn't anything special, but I couldn't stop eating it. I did actually stick to my New Year's Resolution of not drinking for a month, but my husband's Wicker VIP drink sure looked good! Overall, I left very satisfied...and full! If they continue to serve food this good I have no doubt that those tables will fill up in no time!
(4)
Lauren B.

Came here for brunch with a group of friends for the bottomless mimosas and bloody marys. I made sure to get my fill of the bottomless beverages :) The service is friendly and helpful when it comes to ordering.LOKal is small and has a hipster type vibe, but is a fun place to go for a casual brunch. While I wasnt blown away by the food, it was good. I had the duck confit for brunch, which was tasty but not amazing. I sampled the pork belly dish, cooked well and better than my duck confit. Others in my party had the LOKal breakfast sandwich with a side order of bacon, the bacon was thick and cooked properly! IMPORTANT. NUTELLA FRITES!! A girlfriend of mine selected this as her meal and what a GOOD CHOICE it was! Fried french toast, filled with nutella topped with bananas and strawberries! Need I say more! All in all in was a good experience, but not somewhere I would attend once again for brunch. Great for a one time try.
(3)
Laura P.

So here is the thing. I drink something other than polish vodka. The liquor selection is quite sparse. My friend really likes this place for the music and I do too...heard some nice hip hop mixes and that is cool but come on. The scene is definitely upscale hipsters spending their parents money. Young. Pseudo nouveau artsy because it is cool to wear nerd glasses now. You get 4 stars strictly for music and cool bartenders but something has to give on the bar.
(4)
Veronica S.

Kudos to the chef! Hubby and I had dinner here tonight and it was fabulous! And the portions--humungous. We literally brought enough home from our two entrees for two or three more meals. Don't let this gem slip under your radar because the food was top-notch. So here's the rundown. Service - excellent. We were seated right away, had water on the table immediately and our server was just super friendly and on the ball the entire time. We used a Groupon for one appetizer, two entrees, and a dessert and he couldn't have more helpful and our food was prepared and served quickly. Appetizer - Berkshire Pork Belly with swiss chard, pickled celery, and apple cider gastrique glaze. I think this is the best pork belly I've had in a long time. When that tender, juicy, flavorful meat hits your tongue, it's like a smoky, meaty party going on in your mouth and the glazed swiss chard is a perfect compliment to the smoky flavor of the pork. It came with two generous pieces of pork belly and if you are sharing, it is definitely enough for two people. Also, the richness of the meat allows you to really enjoy the flavor without having to eat too much of it. Entrees - Schnitzel with french fries and cole slaw and Summer Kraut Ribs with brown butter-dill potatoes. I kid you not. When our server placed these in front of us, we were astounded. Hubby's pork ribs had enough meat to feed two or three people and were falling-off-the-bone succulent. I don't know how long those babies were cooking, but it seems like hours. My schnitzel was as big as my head and was tender and flavorful and went perfectly with the huge mound of fries and cole slaw underneath. Vanilla ice cream with chocolate mousse, berry compote and a cookie straw - A nice ending to a meat-heavy meal, served as a parfait in a wine glass. After all the meat and potatoes, I couldn't have handled much more than this light, creamy blend of ice cream and mousse. Price - We used a Groupon, but I feel the prices are reasonable considering the amount of food you get and the way it's prepared. Bring your appetite and prepare to be blown away because Lokal is a local restaurant that deserves to be visited again and again. Bon appetite!
(5)
Prashant V.

This spot is my saturday brunch spot. And my sunday brunch spot. And my go to place when I decide to leave the house on weeknights. Not used to having so many delicious vegetarian options on a menu. Even more so, their drinks are amazing too. So for me, this is THE spot every time.
(5)
Kevin T.

What an awesome place to eat. Laid back atmosphere, but they'll have the sports game on if you're a fan. My girlfriend and I have eaten here 3 times and we thoroughly enjoy the food. I highly suggest purchasing the groupon for this place. Steak tartare appetizer and pierogi appetizer are great, and the NY strip was cooked to perfection. My girlfriend loves the pork tenderloin. Good service too, no complaints.
(4)
Tony L.

I feel bad about leaving 1 star, but yelp labels this as "Eek! Methinks not" which is how I feel about Lokal. I had a very odd experience here. Came for brunch with friends from out of town because I had heard great things about the food. My friends waiting in the car, I headed inside to ask about the wait for a party of 5 and the hostess responds "I need your whole party here to seat you". Now, this is a reasonable request, but not the question I asked, struck me as odd, and just confused me. I need to know the wait before we try to find a spot in this busy neighborhood. I ask again and she gives me a 20 min estimate and mentions we should be seated first since I am the only party waiting (this comes up later). I grab my sister while the rest of my party parks the car while we wait for our table. Then there's the bar. We sit at the bar to wait for our party and the bartender just looks confused. We ask for some coffee and he asks if we're eating and mention how we're waiting for our table. He says we need to wait in the waiting area and we cant have our drinks at the bar! I thought that maybe I was just being picky about the waitstaff, but now my sister notices this is just strange. I guess I could have just lied and said I came just for drinks, but we grabbed our drinks and awkwardly sit on the benches with our hot coffee. Next, about 10 people walk in at the same time, which included the rest of my party and another party as well. Now the hostess starts to take down names for a list. Fast forward 20 minutes and the OTHER party gets seated ahead of us. My sister walks up to talk to her and she tells my sister "I told the guy in your party that you'd have to wait". All in all horrible experience. Between the odd experience with the hostess and the bartender and the negative feeling everyone in our party got from the staff, we just left for Southern 1 block away and were seated right away (Southern, btw, has a unique menu and great staff, btw.) Lokal wasn't hurting for business that morning, and plenty were waiting behind me, so i didn't feel bad for leaving. But for you savy readers out there who are tired of the frustrating brunch rush experience in Chicago, this staff just compounds the frustration and I suggest you stay away and try one of the other great options just blocks away.
(1)
Danielle C.

This review is actually from friday Nov 26. I was here w/ a friend at about 8:30pm and the place was dead. In fact, the entire time we were here, the only other people that were there were 2 friends of the bartender's. We ordered the frisee salad (pickled beetroot, shallots, oscypek cheese, Lokal vinaigrette)....decent, but nothing special, the butternut squash pierogis--these were actually pretty good and had caramelized onion and hazelnuts on them, and the scallops, which were decent. The wine seemed a bit overpriced. The service was friendly but extremely slow---the waitress kept hanging at the bar w/ the bartender and seemed to forget she had a table.
(2)
Linda P.

Went there with a groupon, no hassle with that. Tried to order a salad instead of the appetizer on the groupon but they said no which was super weird b/c the app was more expensive than the salad, but whatever.. Had the steak and truffle fries, steak was just ok. lots of fat on it, fries were very good and the little cup of cole slaw was excellent. The dessert was a disappointment, they only offer one dessert and this was a chocolate/nutella pudding in a wine glass. It also had a bit of rasberry jam dropped i there. I don't like nutella and even if I did this was just not good, like something a kid would make as a food experiment. Service was good but would not go out of my way to go back there.
(3)
Ellen F.

You know what? You should go check out LOKaL. Seriously, go now before everyone finds out about it and you have to wait an hour for a table. LOKaL opened recently and they seem to be filling a culinary gap in Chicago that I am surprised was not filled a long time ago. LOKaL is essentially upscale Polish/Eastern European fare. Think of it as classy comfort food. The restaurant itself is sleek and loungey, inviting and comfortable. The environment is perfect for a date or dinner and drinks with a few friends. The food was terrific! I had the cabbage cakes to start and the braised short rib as an entree. Both were delicious. The cabbage cakes were lightly battered and deep fried, served with a creamy chili dipping sauce. The braised short rib was flavorful and tender, served on top of potato pancakes and topped with a dollop of goat cheese creme fresh. Absolutely wonderful. My friend had the beet soup and braised short rib and thoroughly enjoyed both. I tried a bite of the beet soup and it was very good. Considering the quality of both food and service, you would be hard-pressed to find high-end dining for this value anywhere else in the city, especially in the Bucktown / Wicker Park area. Beet Soup: $6 Cabbage Cakes: $4 Braised Short Rib: $18, and the most expensive item on the menu by a few bucks Red Wine: $6/Glass, $25/Bottle Their menu is organized in such a way that you could easily make this a tapas-style meal and share a few small bites. There is plenty of flexibility here. Toward the end of our meal, one of the co-owners stopped by our table to briefly introduce herself and check on us. She was very friendly and gracious. I appreciated that she took the time to say hi and it was clear that she was happy that we were happy with our experience. I will definitely be back and would recommend LOKaL to anyone interested in a modern take on Polish cuisine, someone looking for a good value, or a nice date spot.
(4)
Marc R.

Went back on a Saturday night with no reservation at 7. The salads were amazing, and we loved our food, cocktails, and wine. The salads we chose had a cool mix of Polish/Central European ingredients. The inclusion of Eoscypek cheese in the Greens was a nice touch as was the grilled kabanos in the arugula salad. For our main course we had the duck breast and grilled pork tenderloin. I am a guy who loves food, and I wish the portions were a bit bigger, but there is something to be said about a restaurant that is using Central European food as a jumping off point throwing curve balls and doing things differently. The one thing I really want to rave about was the BlaufrÃ¤nkisch on the menu for $29 a bottle. It is a great dry but not over powerful red wine from one of my favorite Austrian regions (really there are some amazing red wines coming out of Austria).
(5)
Jon C.

Lokal is home to probably the best serving of sausage and biscuits that I've ever had in my entire life. The biscuits are the perfect blend of fluffy and filling! The sausage is wonderfully flavored and fresh. If there on a Sunday, try out their bottomless Bloody Marys or Mimosas... (Personally I would go for their mimosas because they are slightly better). All in all, Lokal has a great atmosphere, great people, and fantastic food.
(4)
Sam F.

Having walked by this new restaurant several times & never seeing much of a crowd inside, I was admittedly a little hesitant to give it a try. The decor is modern, Euro minimalist, and the menu is Polish influenced, but in a very high-end sort of way. My girlfriend and I gave it a go for dinner last night, and our only disappointment was that we waited this long to try it! Everything was absolutely delicious, very refined, and had wonderful flavor. For our starters, the beet salad had these yummy pieces of tempura fried goat cheese in it, and the chicken kielbasa was simply out of this world (it's a must order in my opinion, so well spiced & made in-house). My girlfriend had the mahi-mahi for her main course and it was quite fresh and tasty... I had the meat lovers trio, which consisted of fillet, lamb chops, boneless beef short-rib on a potato pancake, and three delicious sides. The dish was also really something to behold visually... I took a picture with my phone and uploaded it. Check it out, it's was a crazy big plate of food, and a good deal IMHO for $32. It was probably the most expensive dish on the menu, but well worth it. I must say, I am rarely this surprised by a restaurant. I should also add that the service was right up there with the food. Our server (Thomas) was also the bartender and appeared to be the only person working that night, as it was a Monday and not very crowded. He did an excellent job tending to us and was fun to talk to. After the meal, he even brought over a bottle of some 80 proof Polish cherry liqueur and did a shot with us, on the house... Now that's service! I really hope business goes well for this new little jem. I'll gladly wait for a table in the future if it means LOKal will be around in my hood for years to come. Definitely go check it out, you'll be glad you did! !!!!!!!-UPDATE-!!!!!!! I just went back to LOKal last night after not having visited for a month or two. I was very disappointed to discover that their previous chef had apparently "run off". While the food from the new chef was generally ok, it was definitely not up to the quality of the previous chef IMHO. It had potential, but was far from 5 stars I had previously given LOKal, so for now, I'm sadly knocking my review down to 2 stars. Two stars is supposed to mean "Meh. I've experienced better", which is exactly how we felt about our meal last night. Gotta tell it like it is, ya know? I have to say though that the staff is all still super friendly. Thomas is still there, which is great. He was extremely pleasant, and eager to hear my feedback about the revamped menu and new chef. That was very nice. Also though, I think that the portion sizes seemed smaller overall and the prices seemed a bit higher than I remembered from before. I could be wrong though, as it's been a little while. All in all, it felt like a real shame last night... I won't go into details about each dish, but nothing was really outstanding, and a few things were downright ehhh. The best thing we ate were the mussels, but the portion was so small, my girlfriend and I only got six each! We actually had to count while we were eating them to make sure each of us got our fair share! I've never ever had to do that with an order of mussels. Also, the bread they were served with was a poor touch... I twas like they had just put a thick bready sub roll on a grill for a minute or two and buttered it. I much prefer thinly sliced crispy and buttered french bread to soak up the sauce from my mussels. Hopefully they get back on track... I'll definitely give them another go, but will probably wait a few months for them to work out the kinks. Such a shame...
(2)
Katie M.

Lokal's brunch is pretty solid, but it still has some kinks to work through. I'm a self-identified Bloody Mary addict. So the second I hear bottomless bloodies for $9, I'm all in. I understand that with bottomless deals go hand in hand with lower drink quality, but next time I'd go for the mimosas. The bloodies were way too thick and not nearly spicy (...or strong) enough. It tasted more like a can of pureed tomatoes than the zesty hangover curer that I know and love. The waitress seemed less than thrilled to refill our drinks as well. With the drink being too heavy to tolerate and the ten minute wait in between empty to full, I only drank 2 subpar bloodies. Meanwhile, the menu itself was decent, albeit a bit hit or miss. I ordered the watercress bella omelet (with goat cheese and portabella), and while it was good... I don't know if I would spend $10 again on an omelet that offered only 3 drops of that goat-y goodness. BUT I would, without a second of hesitation, get the berkshire pork belly. Oh my sweet baby jesus, it was so good. The pork belly was melt-in-your-mouth tender and it was topped with this super sweet but subtle apple compote. I took one bite of my friend's dish and was seriously drooling for more. The restaurant itself is trendy and cool, plus the bartenders provide some serious eye candy that doesn't hurt one bit. I'd certainly go again, but not without making some ordering adjustments and crossing my fingers for a more attentive waitress.
(3)
Annie N.

I took my bestfriend here for her birthday, and we had a wonderful time. Thanks Lokal for the delicious food and good service. I wasn't sure what to expect here so I called couple hours before to make sure we can sit without a reservation. The bartender/owner or whoever he was was very friendly on the phone and ensured us that there will be enough space for us. We walked in and it was rather empty inside - but we decided to get there a bit earlier than the average time, so that might be why. We sat down at a booth and a waitress came momentarily. The place got a great feeling to it - cool, modern, a bit swanky without the snotty part, music was just loud enough so you can still enjoy each other's company. We ordered a pierogi to share. They came in 4 pieces and they're pan-fried rather than boiled, which I'm used to before. For me they looked like chinese dumpling but that may be the asian inside me speaking. They were good but I was expecting a little better from them. I got the duck for dinner and my friend got some kind of fish. They were both delicious. Mine came with a salad of sort, and the portion was, honestly, small. I kept seeing the waitress bringing plates of burgers and fries out and wishing my portion was that big! The fact that it was delicious didn't help either, because I kept wanting to eat more. My friend's fish was very good as well - fresh and very well done. Our waitress was very friendly. She was the only one working but she made sure to come back and check on us throughout the meal. The restaurant got more customers later on but not to the point of crowded. Very relaxing and romantic. I was super happy with my choice here and I'll fo rsure come back again. Hopefully next time I'll remember to order something bigger!
(4)
Jacob W.

Went to this place with a GroupOn, which seems to be offered pretty often. I suggest getting it. This is the kind of place where you come not expecting a fantastic meal, but end up getting something pretty damn good and satisfying. It's pretty humble food, trendy but not too showy, and covers a wide range of cuisines. I think it has a Polish history but thank god the whole menu isn't Polish food. The interior is fairly trendy and down to earth, wood tables and plain wood chairs, and a DJ booth next to the bar because late at night they clear out the tables and turn this place into a club of sorts, or just a really loud trendy bar. One of their signature appetizers is smoked farm kielbasa, but we opted for the mussels with frites and aioli, a great classes with which you can't go wrong. For the entrees we had duck confit (can't remember the accompaniments) and pork loin with star anise apple compote and tiny potato pancake medallions, which was just delicious. The pork was very tender and still had the skin on it, and everything was so flavorful. We had a delicious red wine with all of this, but this place is also good for their vodka, of course. THis place doesn't really have a dessert menu, if I remember correctly, but they just have one option every night. WHen we went the option was some of ice cream sundae, basic but satisfying. Again, not showy at all, which is what I loved about this place. Too much showy food in Wicker Park that doesn't live up to expectations. I think the Lokal has also been Michelin recommended 2 or 3 years running so the experts agree with me. Still don't know if I'll be back soon without another GroupOn, but that's just cos there are so many other places to try first.
(3)
Ro S.

We went for their brunch and it was a good experience. Their food is simple, delicious and flavorful. Portion size made me feel content, not stuffed. He had the lokal sandwich and I had the potato pancakes that came with 2 eggs. Drinks are not amazing, but better than most brunch places and bottomless when dining. Staff is responsive and timely.
(4)
Carolynne M.

It is rare for me to want to go to a Polish restaurant. You see, for ten, long years I lived in a highly concentrated Polish neighborhood. I am a little maxed out at the moment. However, having heard good things about this place, we decide to hit it up last Friday night. It's a cute place, lots of white modern furniture, with a wall of records and a bar that had the bottles lit from underneath with pink and blue lightbulbs. There was one guy running the joint and while he was very prompt and attentive with us, there were only 3 tables occupied at the time, so we did not have the service issues others have experienced. We sampled the wings, which were served with hot sauce and a heavily dilled ranch dressing. Even thought the chef came out and was very proud of the wings and the technique used to make them, they were really just OK. The slow roasted pork belly however, was off the charts it was so phenomenal and was definitely the star of the show. The sandwich I ordered, the Zapiekanka was made with french bread, sautÃ©ed mushrooms, onions, melted parmesan and sausage. It came piled with lettuce on top so it made it more difficult to eat. It was good, but nothing I would order again. Andy's grilled polish ham sandwich was the winner, as it tasted like a reuben and was just so, so good. I was slightly confused as to whether the pierogi's offered were an appetizer or an entree, as it is not clear on the menu, but seeing the reviews here I think if I were to go back this is what I would order. That and the fantastic pork belly. mmmm.
(4)
Jeff R.

Monday night is prix fixe night at LOKal and I went to have a catch-up with an old friend. For $40, LOKal offers a five-course meal with wine pairings. It's a great deal with good food, and since I had no idea what was on the menu (they don't even have it in the restaurant, only online), I enjoyed being surprised with each dish. The meal showcased Chef Flowers' talent without taking many risks. Some courses were very impressive, while others appeared interesting but lacked meaningful flavor. The "pan-European" emphasis is present throughout which is something I haven't experience in a while but enjoyed the change of pace. Our service was very good, but some of that could be a result of being the only diners late on a Monday evening. I hope the atmosphere is more exciting on a weekend night. I wish the menu was posted on the website because I did not meticulously write down each course and pairing. I'll do my best to remember with help from the pictures. Our first course was soup, squash I believe with chunks of feta cheese. I enjoyed the flavors, nothing overpowering but a nice way to start the meal. Our second course featured a large scallop, cooked very well and lightly seared. It was accompanied by mushrooms and tomatoes. The dark sauce added a very nice flavor, especially for someone not in love with mushrooms. The presentation was first rate. The third course was my favorite - duck pierogi (or something like that). The red wine pairing was spot on and enhanced the already interesting and delicious flavors. I also enjoyed the texture of the dumpling and minced duck. I wanted to eat more of this dish. Our fourth course was likely the spotlight course, featuring pork tenderloin, mashed sweet potato, arugula and a blue cheese crumble. I'm not much of a blue cheese fan but it worked with the pork. The sweet potatoes were tasty and a nice complement to the pork. The entire dish was complete and well thought through, but the taste in my mouth was not my favorite. Claire is a fan of blue cheese and really enjoyed the dish, and since I had no major complaints, maybe it's just my taste buds. The wine pairing was also a let down and did not do justice to the blue cheese pork medallions. The best part was the autumn feel and inspiration of the dish, a reminder of all the benefits of a changing season. The final and desert course of the evening was a disappointment. It was a pound cake of sorts topped with whipped cream and served with nuts and fruit sauce. The cake was not very tasty and had a stale quality. Since I did not love the pork I was hoping for a standout pastry. Oh well. It did not ruin the evening, I just wanted to end on a more solid note, especially with the wine all gone. Even though the value is very good, I don't know if I would run back. I recommend checking out LOKal if you want a change of pace. The food is well prepared and artistically presented, but the flavors lack excitement and consistency to qualify for the next level.
(3)
Victoria D.

I kept hearing about this place so I decided to check it out. Great vodka selection. Even the Yelp Check-in offer was for a shot of vodka made with Buffalo Grass. It was surprisingly smooth with a sweet finish. Check in for yourself to try. This place has that trendy Eastern Euro vibe and the staff were all very nice. It was really fascinating to find out from the owner, Piotr, that they had no fridge in the back and everything is prepared fresh. The steak tartare with the vodka cocktail I ordered was refreshing and the Nutella mousse was a perfect way to round out the meal.
(4)
Benn B.

So, I have to start off with the things I liked about this place (but feel free to scroll down for a tdlr). Any place that has Zlaty Bazant (Golden Pheasant) on tap, a delicious lager from Slovakia, gets a thumbs up in my book. While the food was probably a tad overpriced, the pork tenderloin I had was juicy and accompanied with paper-thin apple slices, which made for a pretty good flavor combination. Stepping back, the appetizer, blandly called "Cheese and Pickles," was actually much nicer than the name would imply with 3 cheeses and three types of pickled vegetables. The service, while not stellar considering the place (which is small) was about half full, was adequate and nothing to complain about. And the surprise dessert (which was I believe a mousse, but not sure as I didn't ask about it) was a nice treat, and pretty good to boot! Based on everything above, I'd have given 3 or 4 stars. However . . . I overheard a conversation and soon realized that the dessert was, in fact, a mistake by the food runner and not a surprise as I was previously delighted about. A millisecond after I had overheard the apology to the table next to me, my check was whisked away only to be returned with a new charge for my surprise dessert. It wasn't worth an argument, so I smugly paid my bill after I had strikethrough-ed the dessert in a last ditch effort to get them to do the right thing, which unfortunately they did not. C'est la vie. In her defense, the waitress tried to bribe me with a complimentary shot of cheap Polish liqueur upon returning my card, likely an apology for a decision which I can only assume was made by management. tldr; decent food, decent service, but most likely poor management which resulted in the loss of a (potentially regular) customer. Sorry, Lokal, looks like I won't be back in the near future.
(2)
Erica F.

Visit Lokal on a Sunday morning before venturing out to Lollapalooza. Yummed out and satisfied. The guy and and I were looking to start our festival day out right... with a sweet buzz. He went for the $9 bottomless Bloody Mary and I for the $7 bottomless Mimosa. When you hear bottomless at this price you get sort of terrified of a Bloody Mary screaming for more vodka... or a Mimosa with no fizz. Gladly, our drinks were healthy and strong :) oh and the food was good too. We started out with the Nutella Frites, which really were Dessert before the meal... but what girl doesn't like that? yum! We both went on to an omelette... The French Omelette seems like it was what I had, but I am pretty sure the boy had a special. All was good. :) recommended!
(5)
Greg K.

I have just enjoyed one of the best omelets I've had at Lokal. Very friendly staff and delicious food. What more can you ask for. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ashley B.

Wow! Went here with a groupon and it couldn't have been better, honestly. Food was perfect, the vibe was fun and relaxed, and we had such a blast with the owner ( who served us that night) that my husband ended up doing shots with him. I had the duck confit, and a week later I'm craving it again. My husband was convinced by our server to get the pork tenderloin, and it was excellent as promised.
(5)
John B.

If I lived in the neighborhood, I could see hanging out here all the time. The room is small and cozy and the decor is cool. The bar is comfortable, and seating is interesting, arranged in a bunch of nooks and crannies rather than simple rows of tables. Apparently there's live music at night, since they were setting up as we were leaving. I can see how this would be annoying if you were trying to eat here, but for hanging out at the bar, it could be fun. Dinner was a mixed bag. For me, the highlight was the pierogi. As it should be in a Polish place, I suppose. The shell was thin and firm, and the walnut pesto sauce was amazing. The rest of dinner was good, but not memorable. I will say that I had been on an eating binge the week I came here, so homey wasn't cutting it as much as it might under other circumstances. Service was spotty. Our server was very enthusiastic until we ordered. I don't think it was intentional. She was certainly very friendly, and seemed ready to take our order long before we were ready to give it. But her follow up wasn't great. By the time we were ready to pay and go, she was nowhere to be found. Odd. I could see coming here to hang out at the bar and get some small plates. But I'm not likely to make a trip back down especially for dinner.
(3)
Remy O.

This is the real deal -- gourmet fare, great experience. I had low expectations from know-nothing Yelp reviews and because it was a Groupon.
(5)
Jaye Lee P.

Well, it was another HOT night and after a couple of errands my husband and I decided to use our restaurant.com gift certificate for LoKal. We had a great time. We did not have a chance to change, but since we ate early we did not feel uncomfortable in our play clothes... Our waiter was darling and the owner made sure to make us feel welcome. That was great already. Then, we thoroughly enjoyed everything that we ordered from our drinks, appetizers, entre' and dessert. What a treat for the weary. Thanks so much!
(4)
Ira M.

I say "yes" to $5 wine nights on Thursday. Especially considering the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (both great) I had are typically $12 each. I also loved the pork belly app (although should really be shared, not eaten alone) and polish ham sandwich.
(4)
Matthew N.

I bought the Groupon for this place and I must say that I was quite impressed. The food was really good! Be sure to ask for Peter, the owner. He was super friendly and gave us a lot of good suggestions. I went with the Po' Boy. Excellent! Beer list is unique (in a good way). Looking forward to going back. Definitely recommend checking this place out.
(4)
Angel B.

I love Lokal and would consider myself a regular here. The food and drinks are great and I absolutely love the ambience. My husband also said that brunch is delicious. While the staff is friendly and funny, I worry that they are spread thin as there are not enough of them. I would say that is the only downfall.
(4)
Ariel L.

This is a really tough review to write. I really wish i could give the place 3.5 stars, but it doesn't deserve 4 stars, so its getting 3. I came here last night for dinner with no reservation. The place was almost full, but they had two open 2-tops and so we were sat immediately. I really liked the decor. Its a modern/trendy look, with comfy tables, cool light fixtures, a movie projected on the wall and a DJ table with a DJ spinning. I immediately feel cool for just being there. The staff was very friendly. They all had big smiles, European accents and were not rushing us. They were very helpful with the menu and didn't push us into anything. The big problem is the food. Some was good, some was tasteless, and some was downright weird. On top of that, the kitchen was very slow and disorganized. Yes, this is polish owned and influenced, but that shouldn't mean anything. The best item of the evening was my Beet puree soup. It had a dash of creme fraiche and some sort of green garnish. I could have and should have ordered a second one. It came with some strange onion and mushroom crepe on the side which I took one bite of and then passed on. My wife ordered the Beet, Arugula and Goat cheese salad. This was the second best item we had. The flavors went really well together. From here things went south. As an appetizer to share we ordered something called Goblecki. It was cabbage stuffed with rice, cream, sausage and cheese. It was TOTALLY weird and I couldn't believe it came out of the same kitchen as the first two items. As entree's we ordered the Bouillabaisse and the rack of Lamb. The Bouillabaisse was tasty, but the pound of salt dumped into the dish destroyed all other flavors and left me chugging water. The rack of Lamb was completely opposite and had no salt, and frankly no flavor. I could have been stuffing tissue paper in my mouth and i wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. We each had a glass of wine. My wife's was twice the size of mine and when I looked at it funny, the server said the glasses were different sizes. "Uh, ok, whatever you say", it clearly wasn't the glass and was just a weak pour. The bill for the two of us was $98. Not a good bang for our buck. Neither of us were really satisfied, but neither were we repulsed. Would i come back? Maybe in 6 months if they are still around to see if they have worked things out in the kitchen, but not anytime soon. Not when there are so many other good options in Chicago.
(3)
Lindsay H.

This place is completely underrated! I'm polish and HATE polish food and I thought the Peroigi was amazing... The place is polish inspired. I think it'd insprired by amazing. I actually went on a Tuesday and it was really slow, and I think they took every extra second to make my food the best. I dont even like dessert and I thougth the dessert was amazing... Also they have a great brunch and w/ an entree you can choose either a bottomless mimosa or bloody...
(5)
Comensal A.

I visited LOKaL early on a weeknight and it was pretty quiet. We both enjoyed the food, and the server was cordial and helpful. The ambiance was so-so: kind of Spartan, too dimly lit for me. We sampled all small plates. Truffle fries were quite good -- nice & crispy, as requested. A beet & arugula salad was well put-together. Potato pierogis were delicious and nicely plated, as was a smoked kielbasa plate. I'll definitely be back to sample more of the food.
(4)
Carly O.

I wanted to give Lokal 3 stars (since you can't give 1/2 stars), but the more I thought about what I was going to write, the more I realized I didn't really have many complaints. Actually, my only one was being ignored when I first came in. But we were seated eventually and everything went fine from there. So brunch. Yeah...$7 bottomless mimosas? Your day drinking requirements will be fulfilled within just one meal. Our server was (mostly) quick to refill our glasses and even gave us one more glass after we finished our meal. I had the potato pancakes. The eggs were cooked nicely (softy scrambled) and the dill fraiche was a nice touch. There were way too many caramelized onions, but whatever. My friend had the pork belly, which looked plentiful and she mostly finished it, so I'm assuming it was good. Prices seem fair and the ambiance is decent. I dig the vinyl on the walls. I've only been there at night once, which was mostly random. But for brunch in the area? Not bad at all.
(4)
Beth M.

Been here two times - each time the staff was amazing - very attentive, very friendly, etc. First time I went there for dinner with a Groupon and everything was delicous. I know I got the steak for dinner - amazing. Like, I attempted to eat the whole thing because I didn't want to waste it's beauty. This morning I went back there for brunch. One - get the bottomless mimosas. It's $7 and I had at least 10 - my waiter made sure I got my money's worth. Food wise ... meh bad choice on my part? I got the burger because, well, their steak was so amazing here but it made sense. In the middle it was cooked perfectly BUT the outside was burnt, which took up the whole flavor. And, really, even when I got non burnt parts (which was not often) the burger was pretty bland. Also didn't like that I had to pay an extra $1.50 just for cheese. Also, the fries looked cooked but they weren't fully done, or they were so soaked in grease. But my friend loved her meal - she got the Nutella. frites??... it's the Nutella deep fried toast. So, again she got more "brunch" like food. I will come back again, though.Just not for the burger.
(4)
Amanda F.

Na zdrowie Lokal! What a find! With our half price dinner for four groupon, my girlfriends and I finally decided to host "Polish Appreciation Night" for our Polish bestie. The menu is admittedly Euro-fusion, but enough Polish favorites are on the menu to get a good taste of Polonia. Before even getting to the food (which was fantastic), I must note that my fifth star was awarded for superior service and customer appreciation. Our reservation wasn't ready when we arrived, so after waiting 10 minutes the Bartender offered us a free round of drinks. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive, and in the spirit of Polish appreciation, she ordered us a round of shots. With our fantastic groupon deal, we committed to ordering a number of dishes and sharing them all. The yummy starters just whet your appetite for more to come. We selected the Truffle fries, the Perogis, and the Keilbasa. One was better than the other. Our picky eater at the table was just going to have the Truffle fries, but couldn't resist the Keilbasa and Perogis. The Potato Perogis are this and fried and pair well with the sour cream and scallions. I've never had better Truffle fries. They are easy to overlook on the menu, but don't! The Fries are paired with shaved parmesan, carmelized onions, and a creamy dipping sauce. So tasty and just $6! Our Polski at the table assured us that the Keilbasa dish was the real thing. The dill potato salad that garnished the Keilbasa was fresh and light, the beets flavored the dish nicely, and the mustard gave it a kick. It must be noted that the kitchen doesn't have an unlimited supply of the seafood options, so don't get your heart set on the mussels or the fish of the day. For our entrees, we ordered the Pork Belly, The Arctic Char, the Pork Tenderloin, and the Duck. I can't pick a favorite. They were all fantastic! The sweet and smoky Pork belly ribs melted off the bone and were served with a very hearty portion of sauerkraut and apples. The Pork tenderloin and potato pancake covered in the mushroom sauce was decadent. I've never had such tender pork. The Duck is a slightly smaller portion than the pork dishes, but so wonderfully crispy. The accompanying Parsnip puree was confusing at first, but I loved the whipped sauce with the mellow flavor. It was creamy without being heavy. Standing alone, the Arctic Char was very good, but lacked the euro creativity and deceptive decadence of the other dishes. The other dishes tasted rich, but somehow weren't too heavy. The Char lacked the heartiness of the other dishes, but was still a very flavorful fish entree. Only having one dessert on the menu is dicey, but no one complained when our nutella mousse and raspberry puree vanilla floats arrived. Again, it was very rich, but not too heavy. We loved it! As we licked our plates clean, we realized we were starting to hold up the Saturday night dance party. We decided to clear the floor and see what the World Music scene looked like. We didn't stay long enough to see the party get under full swing, but it looked like a good old-fashioned Euro trance party was taking formation among the regulars. We'll have to try for that next time. We all loved this Wicker Park find and we will be back when we want vodka and mouthwatering pork. Smacznego!
(5)
Marni P.

I heart Thomas. Used to live a couple blocks from this place, so I've been here a bunch. The days Thomas was our server are 5 star days. The others hover around 4. Our very first visit was our first night out with a new pair of neighbors. It's kinda like a 1st date. This was when we met Thomas. He had us laughing the whole night. Great ice breaker. So, my advice to anyone looking for a 1st date spot.... go to LoKal and ask for Thomas. I will say, in recent visits, you can sense certain cutbacks. Can't fault them for this considering the economy, but it's a shame. Notably, the bread they used to serve at dinner with the trio of butters. That was a standout to me, and it is no longer served. No bread is served at all. However, I do appreciate that the quality of the food they do serve has not been sacrificed. So, I guess if they had to pick an area to cut back, I can respect choosing the bread over something you're actually spending money to order. I love that the small but varied menu rotates seasonally. Keeps things fresh and interesting. Pierogies remain a staple. Always so fresh and so yummy. I always love their fish entrees. Again, freshness is key. Brunch is one of my favorite meals here, despite Thomas not working brunches. Service can be spotty during brunch. The menu is very unique though. Best potato pancake I've had. Love the smoked salmon too. It is presented so pretty, and I love that you don't have to put it together yourself like at so many other spots. The smell of lox is hard to get off your hands! Check it out. And say hi to Thomas.
(4)
Diana R.

It's about time I ate here! Came here for a brunch date last Sunday with my BFF Jessie B and her mom. I got here a little late and thats all thanks to looking for parking sucking ass on the North, Damen, Milwaukee intersection! I finally found a parking spot and ran here. Walked in and the vibe was so chill. J B and mom were having mimosas at the bar... ahem bottomless mimosas. It was the perfect Sunday afternoon. :) When we got seated, we ordered a whole lotta stuff. I started with a dessert, the banana nutella frites a.k.a. party in my mouth (that's what she said)! It's basically french toast stuffed with fresh nutella covered bananas and strawberry drizzle....... OMG! Best concoction ever! For my entree, it was the lokal sandwich, over easy egss, argula, ham, on french bread! So good. I tried the biscuits and gravy and the potato pancakes which were also really good. Mimosas could have used more champagne, less orange juice for me. I'd come back for the food any day though!!
(4)
Simone M.

Great atmosphere, great food and amazing service every time we go to Lokal. One of the many gems in Wicker Park!
(4)
Laurie C.

Fantastic food and service! The mussels were unbelievable and my Arctic char fish of the day was flavorful, light, and delicious. My boyfriend's steak was also incredibly tender and juicy. I'll be back again, and again, and again...
(5)
Phil W.

My wife and friends have been to this spot about 20-30 times over the past few years for brunch, so much so in fact that I would say about 75% of the time we go out for brunch, it is to Lokal. I've always enjoyed the food and ambiance of this place, however the service has always been a little bit spotty. They seem understaffed, even when it is not that busy. They say that one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel, well that happen to us this past weekend. We showed up for bunch and the place was about half full. After being told that we would not be seated until our entire party had arrived (two of us got there about 5 minutes before the other two), we sat in a chair and waited. Given that the place was nowhere near busy or full, I politely asked if we could take our table so I could enjoy a cup of coffee while our friends parked their car. I was refused in a not so polite way.... The waitress/hostess/bartender told me that it was a new policy and would not seat us, just like the 5 girls sitting at the bar had to wait as well. She pretty much argued with me and came across as defensive instead of being polite and apologetic. Strike one. Two minutes later our friends walked in and we were unfortunately seated in her section. She proceeded to slam our water glasses down on the table, fill them about 1/3 of the way up with luke-warm tap water and rush away. Strike two. At this point we were quite upset with her demeanor and service. I'm not one to get up and leave a restaurant but words really cannot explain how offense she was acting to the four of us. Nonetheless, we got up from the table and walked out. My wife politely handed her our four menus and told her "thanks but are actually going to go." She scoffed at her, rolled her eyes and said "Whatever" just about loud enough that the whole restaurant could hear. Strike Three It was quite pathetic. Maybe she was having a bad day, everybody does. But that was about the worst service that I have experienced in a very, very long time. We ended up going to Branch27 at Chicago / Noble in West Town and the experience was quite the opposite.... Amazing food, bright/airy atmosphere and top-notch service. It was almost funny how polar opposite the service was at Branch. I think we found our new brunch spot.
(1)
Kim G.

All I have to say is POLISH People ROCK!!!! They also know how to drink far more than my inexperienced mind can handle. I met the lovely couple who own this place one night and had the pleasure in eating several dishes and drinking lots of Vodka.... Bison Grass Vodka - which is apparently polish and the smoothest vodka I have ever had! I drank it hot, out of a shot glass - and I actually sipped it and savored the taste - not kidding! I also had the spinach salad with lentils and fried egg on top - who thinks of this? I loved it!! I also had some lobster perogies - lots of lobster inside little dough bakes - YUMMO!!!!! Highly recommended and super yummy!!
(5)
Leslie P.

First of all, bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys will keep me coming back to this place in itself. I went to LOKal with some friends for brunch. The atmosphere is great for a casual lunch. The place is on the small side, but they were able to accommodate our group pretty easily. Very clean and comfortable. Really nice brunch menu with lots of diversity. Great coffee, and the mimosas were bottomless and heavy on the champagne - just how I like 'em. I ordered a french omelet, and it was fantastic. Everyone loved their food. Dinner menu looks great too. I can't wait to try it.
(4)
Ria A.

The husby and I came here for Sunday brunch. The place was crowded and there was no host at the front. We didn't really understand their setting process since there wasn't any kind of list or anyone to greet us. After getting the bartender's attention we were able to get a table after about 5 mins, which wasn't too bad. However most of the waiting happened at the table. I liked all the options on the menu. Everything sounded fresh They had sweet selections such as French toast but also had more unique options like duck confit. We knew what we wanted right away but it took over 40 minutes for our breakfast sandwiches to come out. I ordered the LoKal sandwich and really enjoyed it. The fried egg and polish sausage made for a great combo. The food was definitely good but the overall service was a bit lacking.
(3)
Shari N.

I used to really like this place, which is expressed in my previous review. But with a heavy heart, I must say that my love affair with LOKal is over. My last 2 experiences here have been a complete disaster. I've let the sloppy service and recipe changes slide, but once the quality of my meals & drinks begin to suffer, I need to take my money elsewhere. So, 2 visits ago my friend and I both ordered the steak & eggs. This is what I always order and I'm never usually disappointed. So I order as usual, I request my steak MEDIUM and my friend got well done. I got a well done steak and I think she got mine. I asked them to remake my steak. The waitress came back with another smaller, well done steak. I was beyond pissed but I wasn't going to send it back again so I sucked it up and ate it. I was still willing to go back after that due to previous good experiences. I walked in and no one greeted me. I stood there until i made eye contact with a waitress and i told her i was waiting for someone. She walked off and said nothing. The restaurant was mostly empty so I sat myself down at a table. This time I ordered the pork belly which the waitress recommended, but I wasn't impressed with. I just recently went to Baconfest, so I know my pork...and this was not up to par. But still, I wasn't too upset. The last straw for me was the orange juice we were served that was passed off as a mimosa. About 3 mimosas in, my friend and I realized we weren't even the slightest bit buzzed. And then it dawned on us that they were skimping on the alcohol. I am so done...no reason to go back.
(1)
Timothy L.

This is my favorite brunch spot in Chicago. With so many brunch options, especially in this neighborhood, it's easy to get tired of everyone's take on chicken and waffles and eggs Benedict. LoKal doesn't do either of these dishes, and they are better for it! Instead of interpreting tired dishes, they have created their own! Polish sausage and eggs, leeks scramble, or my personal favorite - the pork belly and eggs are each tastefully unique and filling. The chef does an excellent job of delivering quality food every time. The service is always friendly and, of course, the bottomless options are a great deal without sacrificing quality. I have been here a dozen times and never had a bad experience. That doesn't happen often.
(5)
Jim K.

This place has a lot going against it. It's not so much the staff is bad as it is they just seem to operate under no management. And the bottomless mimosas are kind of a joke. BUT. The food is really good. Everything we ordered was delicious and we left stuffed. So, while it's not the best dining "experience" it is pretty great dining. We won't be regulars, but we will be back.
(3)
Miss M.

My 2 friends and boyfriend went here for their bottomless brunch today. My first impression of Lokal when you walk in is that is a very a modern, sleek restaurant and it is filled with hipsters. It is a very energy restaurant and let it be known that they will not seat you until your full party has arrived. I had to sit at the bar for about 15 minutes until the remainder of my party arrived. After I said that were ready to order and starting dining did the waitstaff finally seat us at a booth. It can get very loud at times and we sat next to a painting/photo on the wall of an ugly man screaming-- it was a blown up photograph and it was sort of disturbing to eat next too. The food was very good. I had the po' boy sandwich and it was a great combination of BBQ and polish-European flavors. My boyfriend had a beet salad that was really tasty and the bottomless mimosas are good. The food is very good, but the environment is very fast paced and loud. Most the patrons are hipsters so beware.
(3)
Barb P.

Had their pork belly at Baconfest so when I saw a Groupon for dinner for 2, I bought immediately. They have a great selection of vodka and the bar looks well stocked. The wine selection was more than adequate. The ambiance is classy and the staff was friendly, attentive, and efficient. We had the pork belly appetizer of course and it was fab. I really recommend it. It almost melts in your mouth. I had the fish special and my friend the pork chop. My fish was outstanding, moist and flaky, but I thought his pork was a bit dry but well-seasoned. He enjoyed it more than I did. There was no choice of deserts, only the Nutella mousse. If you love Nutella, you may be disappointed because the hazelnut flavor was overpowered by the chocolate flavor, but I really liked the fact that it wasn't as sweet as Nutella (I always wished they'd make a version with less sugar). But then again, once you get past the disappointment of the lack of hazelnut flavor, well I love chocolate too. The mousse was smooth and creamy. Bottom line, great place and I'll be back, with or without a Groupon coupon. One of these days I'm also going to have to try the brunch after reading all the great reviews.
(5)
Carly B.

The food was decent, but the wait--not only for our reservation but also for our food--was disappointing. Tack on a 20% gratuity for parties 6 or more, and the fact that they wouldn't split our check makes this spot so not worth it. Overall it left a very poor taste in my mouth!
(2)
J H.

The service was slow and short-staffed, but the waiter was very accommodating and the food was amazing! My girlfriend and I saw that on Wednesday nights (or at least this Wednesday night), there were $6 burgers and fries and $7 for a beer and a shot. As we found a table, someone at another table warned us that they were under-staffed. Yes, there was only one waiter for the entire place, and it sounded like the other wait staff just didn't show up to work. So the service was very slow and we had to get our own menus from the bar. When we finally got to order, they were out of burgers. NOOOOO! But the waiter told us that he would give us a grilled chicken sandwich and fries for the same price, or grilled chicken in the burger form. We got one of each and the beer/shot deal. Again, we waited for a bit, and the beer was a cheap Polish pilsner, but not terrible. The shot was some kind of rye (Polish again, I think) and it was actually very smooth and delicious. Not the kind of shot you'd expect from a deal like that. When the food came out, the grilled chicken "burger" was a normal size, but a lot of care had been put into it. It was pretty good, but I think a beef burger would have been much more suited to the arugula and paprika aoli. But the grilled chicken sandwich was the best I've ever had! It was huge, on high-quality bread with bacon, cheese, grilled onions, etc. I don't even usually dig chicken sandwiches, but next time I go back, and I will go back, I'd get that again in a heartbeat (if it weren't for my need to find out about this elusive burger). Oh, and the fries... plain, but cut and done perfectly. Some of the best plain fries I've ever had (though they DO have truffle fries on the menu!). Definitely going back!
(4)
Darren S.

The pork belly with poached egg is an AMAZING breakfast entree! Imagine bacon, but not too salty, and with a bit of sweetness to it. Great texture, with a little chewiness, just perfect. I will definitely be coming back for it! Would have been four stars, except there was a toaster mishap that caused my companion to have bad, under-cooked Wonderbread-like toast. Otherwise.... go! Fantastic!
(4)
Ariana R.

Lokal was amazing! I went here for brunch on Sunday, you are able to get bottomless mimosas with your meal. Everything on the menu sounded so interesting and my omelet was to die for!! Definitely coming back here.
(5)
Kristy C.

The only reason I am giving 3 stars is for the bottomless mimosas. Well done with those, otherwise it was average at best. I ordered steak and eggs and got some potato thing. Sent it back and got just the steak with no eggs. I don't even know how that makes sense but I eventually gave up and focused on the drinks. I wouldn't go back for the food.
(3)
Alex H.

Solidly 4 out of 5, and probably 5 out of 5 for what it is trying to be, a moderately priced but still very tasty option. Loved the kielbasa! I can see what some of the other reviewers mean by the spotty service--it seemed like there was just one waitress for the whole dining area--but she nevertheless did a great job of being at the right place at the right time and offering some great suggestions! Would definitely go back.
(4)
Anne S.

This place is very modern looking but don't let its cool looks fool you - its as warm as it gets in service and food. I saw a groupon or youswoop coupon for this place and I admit that I was hooked by the enticement of bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's for an unbeatable price. I was a bit worried because of that too, but I said what the heck lets try it out! I only wished I had discovered this place sooner! The food was amazing. We went there for brunch and had a really delicious salad with sausage and goat cheese that was a meal in of itself. I had the steak and eggs brunch and it was very good and my husband also had something amazing. The bloody mary was delicious - the bartender worked nonstop making the bloody mary mix from scratch and also making mimosas. I don't like vodka in my bloody mary and usually have it with Guinness - LoKal mixes their bloody marys with Guinness! The waitress had an extra one waiting for me when I finished my first (which was also nicely garnished with olives, pickles and celery). The mimosas were flowing nicely too. The staff is super nice and knowledgeable. Despite what others have posted - the bottomless mimosas and bloody marys were swiftly refreshed and flowing. Maybe they improved their service. We had an excellent time - and definitely will be back!.
(5)
Candice R.

Sunday funday! I was here with a group of ladies to get our bottomless on. One of these girls had just ran the 8k Shamrock Shuffle, and thus was very thirsty. I think we each had about 8 mimosas throughout our 2 hour brunch. The food was very good, but not amazing. Two girls ordered sandwiches (tuna and steak) which both were overcooked. We also had the potato pancakes, grilled sausage dish, watercress omelet, and grilled polish sandwich. The potato pancakes were awesome, and so was the omelet, like everyone says. My eggs were basted to perfection, and brought by our oh-so-good-looking server. We had the nutella dish for a dessert, and that is definitely a do not miss. Everybody left stuffed, buzzed and ready to continue the sunday funday. Mission success!
(4)
Cassandra T.

First, lets discuss the service/staff. I visited LoKal because of the server/bartender Rasheed. I have followed him from three different restaurants. He promotes the places he works and the places that he's proud of and I'm never disappointed. He Facebooked me about LoKal's Sunday brunch. And as with his other suggestions, LoKal didn't let me down. The food was awesome. The menu items were very different from the traditional brunches. If you want to try new things, LoKal is your spot. I thoroughly enjoyed my selection. And, let's not forget the never-ending mimosas. Can you say yummy??? I highly suggest LoKal because of the terrific server, Rasheed, the fun atmosphere, the delicious menu, and the wonderful drinks. Hope to see you next Sunday!!!!!
(4)
Nick M.

Like Brett, I don't understand the name "LOKal" because they aren't about low calories and as for it being local... eh, maybe local crap cuisine?! Yes, I'm angry. Actually, my whole table was angry. We should have walked out as soon as we got the blast of 3 day old fish smell coming from the kitchen as we entered. The only thing that saved them from a one star review was that a few people from the group of 6 actually enjoyed their meal and our waitress was pretty good, that is after comparing her to other reviews of poor service. So my issues with LOKal starts with freshness or lack there off. The mussels nor the scallops tasted fresh and thank god they didn't kill us later on. Next let's talk about portion size, they were small scallops to begin with so you can put out a few more, and a few other items were lacking as well. The only thing they didn't skimp out on was the salad (big shocker). The biggest issue I had by far was the FLAVOR! Hell, it's not going to hurt you to add a few spices and maybe some salt. Everything I touched seemed to be lacking... well, everything. It wasn't just me being cranking either, others agreed. The only winner seemed to be the Butternut squash pierogis (though they looked a bit oily to me) and the grilled Caponata. Just a little tip to LOKal, if you going to serve chicken don't call it "Airline" chicken. That really didn't make it sound appetizing but my options were limited. As for the place being romantic or sexy... I'm sorry but plastic chairs and plastic cushions in the booths does NOT a sexy night make! But I will give credit to whomever the artist is on the paintings, they are brilliant!! That night 6 people walked away starving, shame on you LOKal! Brunch sounds nice but unless you made me, I'm not coming back.
(2)
Amanda Z.

Though their brunch menu seemed limited, we all had great breakfasts. Fair warning, the salmon and caviar breakfast is small, much like four pieces of sashimi. My brother found it to be very filling though. I got the Watercress Omelet. One word: decadent. It was delicious filled with watercress, feta and mushrooms. The only bad part was the feta was concentrated in the middle of the omelet and I was kind of hoping once I hit the feta that it would continue through the rest of the omelet, but it didn't. That's not saying there wasn't a lot, it was just concentrated in the middle :( The roast potatoes were equally decadent; buttery with a taste of spiciness. Our waiter was really nice and we heard him say at another table that it was his first day on the job. Even with that knowledge, we thought he'd actually been doing really well and had beautiful tattoo sleeves peaking out from the cuffs of his button-down shirt. And, though we didn't partake in the bottomless mimosas and bloody mary's that morning, we definitely will the next time. Oh! And, they can take reservations on their website.
(5)
Molly S.

I feel weird about this place. I wanted to like it more than I did, but when I consider the whole meal, I'm not sure I would go back. Wasn't bad, just wasn't super great. We had a groupon, so we did the 3 course thing. For our appetizer we chose the pierogi. Here's the thing...if you're going to be a Polish inspired place, you better make damn good pierogi. These were...not. They weren't "reimagined" pierogi either. They sounded really promising on the menu - Bacon and leeks? I'll take it! - but they were just not great. The wrappers were more like wonton wrappers, which like, okay fine, it's just different, but it really was not as satisfying as the regular dough. The filling was also really bland (and had the consistency of wallpaper paste, which was made worse by the fact that the skins were sort of crispy and a little tough, so the filling oozed out when we tried to eat the pierogi because of the texture difference). Did they taste bad? No. They just weren't that good. The best part was the bacon and leek topping. When I can get amazing house made pierogi from a little Polish grocer a few miles away - 10 for a couple dollars - I'm not dropping cash at this place for sub-par ones. The boyf had the LoKal burger for his entree and said it was good, although not anything to rave about. The hand cut fries were really awesome though. I stole a lot of them lol. I had the fish of the day, which was trout. I actually really liked it. The fish and the lemon risotto were cooked well and tasted great together. The "tomato jam" wasn't really a jam (more like a blended sauce), but it was good. My problem, though, was that the dish was really oily. I assume they finished the whole thing with a drizzle of oil, but it was too much. Trout is already an oily fish, so the whole thing was sort of weighed down. (Plus, the 3 scrawny asparagus were overgrilled.) But, despite this, it still all tasted good. They only have one dessert per day, and that night it was chocolate ice cream with Nutella mousse and a strawberry compote. It sounds great, but was just...good-ish. I don't know how anything with Nutella could be anything less than amazing, but this was just not very exciting. Mousse over ice cream was a little weird, but I was willing to go with it. (Maybe they were running out of mousse and were filling in with the ice cream?) Don't get me wrong, we ate it all, and it's not that we disliked it. I just wouldn't necessarily recommend it as something to go there for. I think maybe they would benefit from having more than one dessert a night, or at least having some sort of stable dessert that they do really well. The table next to us couldn't have the Nutella mousse for some reason (maybe a nut allergy?), so the waiter offered them a drink instead. Good for him. That's a nice gesture. But still, I would think they would run into problems only having one dessert when so many people are coming in having paid for a 3-course groupon. Since you can't know the dessert options ahead of time, you kind of have to wing it and hope the dessert will be something you can/want to eat. (But I guess that's a little spoiled to complain about.) I know this review sounds a little harsh, but overall I thought the food was fine to good. I don't think I would want pay full price for what we had, but I wouldn't say it was a bad meal. Service was polite, but our waitress was just a tad brisk. Every time she came over, it was like she was trying to find out what we wanted in the least amount of time possible and then scoot away again. The place wasn't crazy busy, and it's not that big. She wasn't really rude, but I felt like I didn't get a chance to finish a sentence, let alone ask a question, before she was walking away. Again, like with some of the food, it's not that the service was BAD. It's just that it was...lacking anything that made me feel a strong urge to return. I guess I would consider trying this place again for appetizers or something, since they had a lot of cool looking stuff on the app menu. Don't think I would make much of an effort to come back for dinner.
(3)
Aneta K.

Food: amazing Bottomless mimosas/bloody mary's on Sunday: doesn't get better Service: Quick, efficient Decor: modern, simple-just how I like it :)
(5)
Kel W.

Lokal .... makes me frown a little bit. The dinner we had there was not particularly wonderful. Now brunch, their brunch was great! My review here goes for the bartenders. I was there on a Thursday night and it was PACKED. That's great for a business! Yay, they must be a cool place for drinks, right? NOPE! It was packed due to there being a monthly in-house band, Ephelon Trio, covering/playing The Love Below in its entirety. The bar was busy, but not many people were ordering, there were actually just a lot of people sitting AT the bar on chairs. I squeezed my way into a spot, clutching my $20 bill in a visible hand. Out of the two bartenders they had there while I was waiting, one was playing with the remote on the TV, trying to turn a DVD on (there is a band playing, who cares about a DVD?). The other bartender was talking to one of her friends - I can only guess - about her full drink, asking her if she liked the "concoction" she made for her. When her friend was wishy-washy on it, she dumped the drink and made a new one for her. You are making up drinks for your friend or serving your friend a free drink before helping a paying customer? All I want is a Makers and Coke, it won't take you long I promise. About after 5 minutes of waiting, I finally got service. A tiny, tiny, tiny whiskey and coke was placed in front of me and the words "NINE DOLLARS" came out of her mouth. NINE DOLLARS? I'm sorry, that's too expensive for lackluster service and smaller than average drink servings. I guess I should have stuck with the 5 dollar wine. They do have great deals here from time to time, and the food is pretty good at times, but they need to work on their attitude. I don't care if you are on North in/near Wicker Park, don't up-charge for horrible service and so-so drinks.
(2)
William R.

I had friends come in from out of town to Chicago and we brought them to Lokal, it was also our first time there and it was great! we had to wait a little while but since they had bottomless mimosas we didnt mind the wait at all!
(5)
Foram B.

My boyfriend was in town and we wanted to go to a nice, trendy, yet not a budget buster restaurant with some friends to celebrate him passing his board and licensing exams. We went on a Sat night with a group of 10 and were seated towards the back at a table that was intimate and private from the rest of the restaurant which we all loved. Our server was very enthusiastic and kept things comical without making you feel uncomfortable. We had a slew of different types of eaters, specifically a couple friends that are strict vegetarians, and the waiter was very helpful in answering all of their questions ensuring that they weren't getting anything that was against their diet. Everyone absolutely loved what they ordered from the rack of lamb, meat lovers trio, chicken, to the stuffed poblano pepper, risotto, soup and salad. I was extremely satisfied with our meal and the atmosphere, although the service was a bit slow. We were a large group, however before everyone had arrived, we were given the complimentary bread and crackers, but no plates. After a while, I stopped someone and had to ask. Our dishes came out together for the most part except for one lone straggler. I can't say the timing was awful, but it could've been better. Either way, we all enjoyed our experience and the food is absolutely delicious! I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Gaurang S.

Really friendly staff. Great Bread. Generous size glasses for their on tap beer, and a nice eclectic selection of ethic beer. That explains the presence of the stars. The lack of two of them is because the food is pretty ordinary. We did come here for early dinner, so maybe this place has other things going for it later at night? It's one of those 'probably check it out later' places. But the first experience did not blow my mind. Oh, i did love the projected reels on the walls, btw.
(3)
Christos K.

i just wanted to start by saying that the only reason i came here was because i have a groupon..and taht i will NOT be coming back the food is awesome! great presentation and taste. prices are too damn expensive but the service was just ok came here with some friends and family to celebrate an anniversary. in the beginning of the night, everything seems perfect, nice crowd, music, service, decor.. had diner so we decided to stay for drinks. they had a dj so the server came to warn us that there will be loud music (damn... i don't think i look that old), but he didn't warn us that there was actually a "all boys" party with trannys... nothing against them... but it was just really weird how a establishment can change its atmosphere within an hour.... we didn't just leave after that... we run out the door
(2)
Justin R.

My girlfriend and I went to LOKal for brunch. The temptation of $7 bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys was impossible to pass up. Fortunately for us, the food was very good too. In fact, the Watercress Bella Omelet was one of the nicest omelets I've seen in a while; a perfect French style omelet. Also, the Potato Pancake was quite tasty. The biggest surprise was the breakfast sausage, which seemed to have allspice, or something similar in it, giving it a very different flavor than expected. It was great. The staff was very friendly and the restaurant itself seems cool. We will definitely go back for brunch, and I would really like to try dinner as well.
(4)
Aaron G.

i can only speak about brunch. My partner and I visited on a Saturday morning and were immediately greeted at the door and seated. The ambiance is great, music is great and set at the appropriate volume. Like everyone has said...the food is amazing and it's why i'll be returning with more people. Eggs were fresh and done right, bread was tasty, and the list goes on. Normally my partner does not eat everything on his plate, but this time...he.ate.everything. And two thumbs up for bottomless mimosas! I can't wait to check out dinner here.
(4)
Andrea H.

I'd like to give 3.5 stars, but that isn't an option and I don't think this place merits four... So three it is. Bottom line, for those with short attention spans: Decent food, fun vibe, great value, ok service, but I don't recommend going with a party of more than four. Now, the dirty details. I was planning a brunch for a large group of friends (11 of us, at that time) and knew it was relatively small so I attempted to call a few weeks in advance to ask if a group that size could be accommodated. After several days of no answer, I emailed them. I received a response the next day indicating it was no problem and we were all set for 1pm on our requested Saturday. The night before our brunch date, I called, and much to my amazement someone answered this time! I wanted to confirm my reservation, and ask if they could accommodate three more as our group had grown. I was told, no problem, they would be ready for our 1pm reservation. Which was intended to have us seated at or near 1:00PM. In the afternoon. At 1. My party arrived on Saturday... and proceeded to wait until almost 2pm to be seated, as there is only one table large enough for a group our size, and it was occupied. To be fair, several members of our party got stuck in traffic and were 15-20 minutes late, so our party was not fully intact at 1pm... But no apologies were given, no one checked in on us as we waited in the very small doorway area (we had to hunt someone down 45 minutes after the time of our reservation to ask for status), and there was no offer to comp any of our bill or provide us with anything special to compensate for our time. All that said... Once we were seated, our server was attentive, and brought us pitchers of mimosas to keep our glasses full at all times. I'd read other reviews that this was a problem... It was not for us. We ordered a variety of menu items and most were very good. Only a couple issues... The pork belly that came with the pork belly and eggs was *all* fat. It is expected to be a fatty cut... but some meat should accompany the sludge. Also, the steak that came with my steak and eggs was ordered medium rare but was delivered to the table closer to medium well. I didn't send it back as I was ravenous by that time, and despite my disdain for overcooked meat, it still was very tasty. If you could get it cooked correctly, I would recommend it. A few members of our party ordered the Zurek soup. It was very tangy and flavorful, and I recommend it for anyone who doesn't have overly sensitive taste buds, but know that it comes in an exceptionally large bowl, so if a few people want to try it, best to share one bowl if you aren't a germophobe. Our bill came to only $25 per person after tax and about a19% tip. Everyone had one entree and bottomless mimosas, and a few people had soup and/or sides of bacon. Great value for the amount of food/mimosas we had. So... Lokal is worth a look-see for smaller groups. They have tables to accommodate 2 or 4, and maybe 6 if you don't mind cozying up... But I wouldn't recommend Lokal for a group larger than that unless you have a lot of time on your hands to wait for the one table big enough for you. Clearly, there is no point making a reservation.
(3)
Jourdan S.

It's a cool spot and the service is good. I would recommend it to stop in and have a drink. As far as food? NO. I had dinner here and it was terrible. Who ever is creating the menu has no clue about dish compositions and compliments. It was like eating dinner that a kendall collage freshman made after seeing the menu from takashi.
(1)
Val B.

I had comically bad service here with Jen B. and Roger W. Well, it actually started out comically bad and then went from terribly amusing to terribly annoying. 1. Our waiter brought out the coffees one-by-one. It took forever and the coffees were incredibly small. 2. We had all-you-can-drink mimosas and bloody marys, which were clearly not all-you-can-drink since our terrible waiter REFUSED to bring more bloody mary for my friend. I eventually had to go to the bar to get her one, and even the bartenders ignored me. 3. Our waiter took our order without writing it down. Immediately after we left, we were all like "he totally didn't get that." TEN minutes later, he came back and said he didn't remember what we got. I would give it to him if he came back 1-2 minutes later, but seriously, wtf. 4. My food was actually pretty good, but no one else was impressed. My boyfriend's omelet was like the sickest shit imaginable. 5. He took forever to bring the check. I had to get up to remind him of his purpose. 6. He apologized like every 4 seconds. Here's a hint: stop apologizing, start being a normal waiter. 7. When we finally got our check, he had charged our party of 5 for 7 coffees (wtf) and an extra omelet. Overall, it was a completely tragic / sometimes hilarious / but mostly annoying trip to LOKal. I highly, highly, highly advise against visiting this establishment. Unless you like feeling like you're on an episode of the critically acclaimed Ashton Kutcher-produced Punk'd.
(1)
Benji G.

I hate doing this for a place that looks like a solid space and a great restaurant. **I am reviewing this completely on my experience with it's nightlife" I walked into LOKal after coming from another spot down the block. There was a good amount of people congregating around the bar and it seemed pretty packed. The music wasn't really great and I kept looking around for someone to start dancing or look like they were having fun. Everyone kind of seemed in one of those "hold a drink close to your chest because your in a small space where everyone has to constantly walk by you to get anywhere" kind of moods. It was pretty difficult to grab a drink from the one bartender... I've heard good things about this spot and I feel like it could be a lot more fun perhaps another time. I definitely think I will need to review this up again, next time with dinner and some drinks after that.
(3)
Anna G.

I have only been here for brunch, but the Bloody Mary's are spicy and the potato pancakes come with dill-y sour cream, and that is all that matters to me
(4)
Jesse D.

first off, yelp says they open at five. a heads up - they open at 6. we went with a groupon - dinner for 2. the food was pretty good. not amazing, but, it had it's moments. my girlfriend liked the pork tenderloin a bit, and we both decided over dinner that we'd be heading back to give their brunch a try. the problem arose when the bill came. Groupon's site was down for one reason or another - both my iphone app, and the website. I've already reached out to groupon to let them know about the situation. so, i couldn't get access to the code that they need to run the groupon. This is more groupon's fault than the restaurant, but, after trying to get the groupon for abou 5 mts, i let the server know. He was allright with it - said he really needed the # on the groupon to proceed, but he'd check with the owner. the owner was actually there for the majority of the conversation, but didn't identify himself. When i asked where the owner was, the waiter pointed him out, and i let him know what was going on. The owner's response is why i will never go to Lokal again. He told me it wasn't his problem - and, that he needed the number. i told him i'd be happy to print out the Groupon and deliver it to him tomorrow - at which point, he borderline accused me of stealing from him, saying i'd just come back and get a free dinner from him. My response was that I had no intention whatsoever of doing that, and i showed him that both the app and the website were down. He said "it's not my problem, i don't care." i asked him what he thought i should do about it, and he said pay the entire bill. again "not my problem." i asked him why he signed up to have a groupon in the first place - suggesting that maybe he did it to bring in new customers such as myself. His response was, again, "not my problem." i told him "you understand that i live in the neighborhood, and i am never coming here again". HIs response ' "not my problem" I asked him if it was Lokal's policy to treat new customers this way, and let him know that i read the reviews on yelp. His response? "oh, i'm really scared." the chef came out - and, had a much different opinion on the issue. he brought out his computer, signed onto the wifi - and confirmed that groupon's site was down. he was much more reasonable, asking if we'd mind waiting a few mts to see if the site would reload. The chef actually cared the situations. The owner simply walked away. my issue with the whole evening is that it didn't have to go this route. My girlfriend enjoyed the meal and were prepared to come back. but, this is simply the worst treatement i've gotten in an establishment, and i will not be returning. The groupon cost me $28. The owner decided that fighting for the extra $20 was more important than providing a reasonable level of customer service to a new customer.
(1)
Keith R.

Most of my egg whites were not cooked in the schnitzel sandwich. Ruined my lunch. Waitress took $2 off of my $80 bill. Total waste of time, money, etc...avoid.
(1)
Sandy M.

I went here for my birthday dinner and I found it through yelp. I needed a restaurant in Wicker Park so that bar hopping would need to be in walking distances. I had the duck leg and the cocktail "Parisian" was amazing! you really could taste the butterscotch. and my duck leg was good, but they over did it on the barley rice. I had some of my friend's risotto and it was hella good. so creamy. =D I really like their decor inside too, but it was a tad bit small for me cuz I had a group of 10 with me and we were like the only group there and was seated in the back corner. Our waitress was hella caring and nice to let some of my friends what are vegetarian friendly. Menu is short and small.
(4)
Jackie S.

lokal is one of those places i never would have gone if we hadn't had a groupon, even though we saw the signs outside proclaiming cheap, unlimited bloody marys and mimosas. it just looks so slick and "modern", and i don't dig on that. i like a place to have a little charm and hard plastic chairs aren't my jam. i've been there twice now, both times for brunch. the first time, i ordered the potato pancakes and he got the smoked salmon, which at the time came with crostini (and now comes with a bagel, according to the menu). both of these items were okay. the potato pancakes are definitely not latke-style, which made me kind of sad. it seems like they were made with some sort of heavy cream and were a little too much for me. i don't remember anything about the eggs, so they must have been fine. the second time i went to lokal, with some lady friends, i got the french omelet and roasted potatoes. the eggs were a little greasy but i love potatoes and all was forgiven. as far the gripes about not supplying a constant supply of mimosas or bloody marys to my blood stream... whatever. how many am i supposed to be able to drink in one sitting? we also had one thing on our first trip that makes lokal worth going to: nutella frites, banana, strawberry sauce. i hear you, savory breakfast food enthusiasts - i don't usually go for sweet either when i go to brunch. i almost always pass on pancakes, waffles, french toast, or whatever else a restaurant wants to cover in syrup. just order this. you will not be disappointed.
(3)
Sam W.

Having watched LOKaL throughout it's transformation from a whitewashed-windowed 'soon coming' to a fully formed WickerPark trendy eaterie I was excited to try it out... Launching a new restaurant in a crowded arena in a frigid Chicago winter is no small showing of chutzpah, so I was keen to dive in... I went Monday, (already happy that they were not one of those places that decides for me that I should be cooking for myself on a monday night) hoping it would be quiet, and hoping to either catch the chef in show-off mode or failure-to-care mode. Luckily, it was the former! LOKaL has a Polish lean to it and considering the neighbourhoods' history, I'm glad. Cue $4 draft Zywiec, pierogi, kielbasa and more! We had the cabbage cakes and pierogi to start, the spice and the light fry on the cakes was phenomenal and the bourbon sauce on the pierogi, seriously good. Following was the tender and melting short rib, which my partner in gourmand remarked 'i only need a spoon to eat' and the intreaguing stuffed poblano - which was meaty and potatoey and spicy deliciousness! Top that off with a healthy dose of spicy 'fire strings' on most dishes, a good bottle of midrange wine and to get a bill only totalling $90 I was very happy with the experience. If I had to nitpick - and only because I risk sounding like I have a stake in this place otherwise - I'd say this. You have the decor down, modern and trendy enough, but warm and cosy enough to be a good eatery - whoever decided that a DJ booth and neon blue lighting in the bathrooms was a good idea is on the wrong wavelength. You have a good menu, good prices and an inventive chef.... go with it, and don't try to be a euro-trance-dance bar. No Need. Just a quick word on our waiter - perfect. Friendly, knowledgeable, attentive and with just the right amount of charm/quips/cheek.... it's easy on a slow night to overpower your guests, but you won us over and we'll be back.
(5)
Robert P.

This was my second time visiting, first was for Yelp Eats. This places seems to put more of their efforts in the food. The menu is interesting and offers a good selection of unique dishes. I ordered the Bison Steak mid-rare. The potatoes that came with this dish are one of the best potato dishes I had and paired excellently with the bison. Bison was cooked perfectly and served at good temperature. The place itself is nicely decorated and well presented. Only complaint I have it the size of portions but I would trade the quality of the food for that any day. Good for 1on1 dates or double dates but nothing bigger or else it is somewhat not practical to get a table.
(5)
Trevor T.

Great music, awesome space.
(5)
Shayna N.

Whatever, no one is answering the phone, there's no way to leave a message because the memory is full. On the message it says if you want to make reservations visit the website and I see NO WAY to make a reservation through the website.
(2)
Lisa H.

Lokal is a chill place and food is tasty! None of the food is overly creative and inventive, but you will leave satisfied. I have now been there twice and both times was pleased with my meal - first time I got a burger and my second time I got the grilled chicken sandwich. I would have probably raised my vote to 4 stars, but both times our service was not the best, it wasn't awful, but it just wasn't great. Last night the lady had like 3 tables and we were often still waiting for our drinks to be filled and she acted pretty rude like she would rather be anywhere else but working at Lokal that night - who knows - overall though a decent place to go.
(3)
Sara M.

I truly wish I could give this place zero stars. If you read the rest of my reviews, you will see that I typically write stellar reviews in order to support awesome businesses in Chicago. That being said- I have never in my life been more angry, sick (like really sick,) and upset about a place. First point: a place that has 28-30 dollar entrees should NOT have paper napkins- I actually made a comment (joking) that we should leave at that point:) Second: We informed our server that we had a little over an hour as we had a show at the hideout---we ordered salads, I had bouillabaise, and boyfriend had short ribs. WE WERE THERE FOR OVER 2HOURS- I have experienced a coursed dinner in this time.... Third: THE FOOD- everything (except bread- bread was good) was awful---My bouillabaise was the worst- I only took a couple of bites...I hate sending things back that along with the time issue really had no choice- BUT the kicker---both boyfriend and I have been sick- really sick since 1am last night.... This place is truly a "hot mess" and I will adamantly tell everyone I know to STEER CLEAR!!!! SICK OUT!!!!
(1)
Jack H.

Great beer (Zywiec on tap). Very good food...we just had appetizers...but the pork belly and peroigis were delicious, calamari was good, wings were ok. Decent atmosphere. However the service kind of killed it for us. Our waitress kind of forgot about us and we ended up paying our check at the bar. Maude, my partner in crime, was NOT happy about that. I like that bottomless memosa/bloody mary deal so I could be back for that, but doubt Maude will be back.
(3)
Heather K.

This place is truly not getting the attention it deserves. The food is pan European/Polish/pan Asian (yes, really) - decidedly inventive, and delicious. The cabbage cakes (only $4, for a plate) taste like the best egg rolls you have ever had - although that's an understatement - with spicy chili dip to boot. They offer 20 oz. glasses of Zywiec for $4...and all drafts are $4 on Thursday nights. For those of you who haven't tried Zywiec, it's a very smooth, easily drinkable Polish pilsner. $7 gets you bottomless mimosas and bloody marys for weekend brunch; which is served until 4 pm. The staff is very friendly, and clearly have a passion for the unique cuisine that they're serving. The atmosphere clean, modern, and minimalist - yet cozy. And btw, they have live DJs at night.
(4)
Brian S.

My food was good, service not the best,
(3)
Diana M.

I'm in the service industry so I can appreciate people that do their job right... LOKal is really amazing at it. From the detailed decor in the restaurant, to the plates and silverware, to the music in the background, LOKal really delivers an entire feel to you. And the food is spectacular. Today I had the soup of the day, and then two halves of sandwiches from their menu. The soup was a tomato bisque.. so fresh and yummy! Then the ahi tuna sandwich, which is piled ahi tuna cooked very lightly and seasoned perfectly. Then the shaved pork, soo good. It has mandarin oranges and some sort of minty leaves. All for $11. They serve their water with a slice of orange in it, which I love. But go check this place out, it's locally owned, has a beautiful set up, super friendly hard working owners and the food is fantastic!!!
(5)
Andrew M.

The staff was excellent, attentive, and knowledgeable. The food was AMAZING. The slow roasted pig belly really was the stand-out of the meal. The wine selection was a little on the small side but the waiter suggested a very good choice (the small wine list is not necessarily a knock on the place as someone can be inundated with choice and not know how to order).
(5)
Grace L.

The best brunch deal in the area is probably to be found at Lokal. $7 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys and most brunch entrees priced well below $10. Very quick with rounds on the drinks, and you have until 3:30 to cash in on the bottomless-ness...a generous window of time if you ask me. The food is flavorful and excellent too...would love to try everything and will definitely be back.
(5)
Nicole B.

Today was my first time trying LOKal, and I was very pleased. Since it was too nice out to sit in a restaurant i got the sandwich to go, but the interior is really nice looking. I got the Ahi Tuna sandwich and it was fabulous! The actual tuna part had a great flavor and the horseradish sauce and vinaigrette were perfect accents. I can't wait to try their other sandwiches.
(4)
Joanne J.

How can you go wrong with bottomless $7 mimosas? And in case you don't feel like sharing your champagne with orange juice, you can enjoy bottomless champagne for $12. Refills are $2 once the meal is over. Also have to mention the truffle fries. I ignored the rest of the menu and stuck with multiple orders of the truffle fries the last time I was there. Good place to get brunch and chill on the weekend.
(4)
Ken M.

Went on a Saturday night. It was early and was met with a friendly greeting. Waiter was very frielndly and knew the food well. The mussels were outstanding, but the best were the Pork Tenderloin and the Pork Shank on the Bone. Outstanding taste and presentation. I will be back for more!!! This is the best that I have ever had.
(4)
Greco R.

Impressive all the way around. Creativity and quality with the food, presentation, and service. They showed that they can cater to vegetarians, pescetarians, etc. Also, customer service was excellent, from the bartender when I first entered, and the server at the table. Decor was very modern and tasteful, with black and white projection screen on a wall, great light fixtures, furniture. Elegant neighborhood cafe which can work for just a casual night out for dinner, or a more formal outing, or drinks. Wine list seemed nicely thought out. A lot of attention to detail. Well done. I'd give it 5, but I think I need to leave some room for growth. Honestly, I don't no what would have made it a better experience.
(4)
M K.

My fiance and I placed bets at dinner over how quickly LOKal would close. We went at 8PM on a Saturday night and found PLENTY of open tables - not a good sign. Food was average and expensive for the portion sizes. Service was similarly mediocre. Ambience was lacking -- place looked more like a bar/lounge and not like a restaurant. Really nothing redeeming about this place. I'd give it 1 star if they had done something egregiously wrong, but since everything was mediocre and underwhelming but not offensive, I give it 2 stars to be nice. Don't waste your money. Thank goodness we had a Groupon to use.
(2)
jennifer P.

We ventured out to visit Lokal based on the reviews on Yelp. We were pretty sure we would enjoy it. It was a Sunday evening and we showed up at about 9. We were the only people in the place. (Which was fine it was Sunday after all) The decor could have been much cooler then what it was. It definitely had potential but the fact that they had paper napkins wrapping silverware was a bit of a turn off for the type of restaurant is is supposed to be. No table clothes made it seen like a bit of a cafeteria. We were greeted with some water and the menus and told they were out of the ribeye and one of the fish courses. Hmmm.. ok.. We looked over the menu and decided what we would order and waited. We waited for about 8 minutes. Nothing, no drink order, nothing. The server was standing at the bar talking the whole time. So we just put on our coats and left. We would have stayed if we could have gotten a drink at least. Since we were the only guests in the place we expected a little bit more attention. I am giving a one star mostly for the projector on the wall. That was cool. The prices were somewhat high and for what would have been a 100.00 dinner for two we expected nice napkins and some attention.
(1)
L L.

What a wonderful surprise! Never noticed this on the street and would have never visited without a Groupon! We started with an arugula salad that was a lovely start! Then came the mussels, scallops, pork belly and pierogies. Mussels - fantastic flavor and ate everything on the plate - including the lettuce that was underneath the mussels - studded with bacon and delicious! Scallops were beautifully cooked and came with a great relish. Pork belly - PORK BELLY -so good, so great, so happy, so getting it again! Pierogies - least favorite of the night and they were okay. Wish they were the thicker, traditional variety. Risotto at the end was delicious and may have been studded with sweet potato or carrots - couldnt tell but loved it. Ganache dessert with strawberries at the end were glorious and I am so excited to have discovered this gem. It was empty when we were there and I hope you read this and run over - they should be busy every night!
(4)
caroline e.

Finally busted out the groupon for this place. Loved the polish inspired food for something a little different. They even have some polish beers I've never heard of before. The kielbasa appetizer was delish. The artic char was okay, but I loved the califlower it was served on. My dinner companions seemed to really enjoy the short ribs and the duck as well. The only thing I didnt like was that they sat us at a weird table that's right next to the bathroom. I basically had to watch people go in and out of the rest room throught my dinner. Not very appetizing. My advice would be to ask for something else if they try to sit you there.
(4)
Macy V.

I had dinner at LOKal last night and I was very underwhelmed. A friend and I sat at the bar, she was there before me and already had a cocktail. It must have taken about 15 minutes before the bartender came over to get me a drink. The place was empty. The only good thing about this place was the food. After we ate, I ordered 2 shots from the bartender, she left the bar and went in the back. Maybe 10 minutes later I asked another bartender for the shots we never got and the manager came over and explained that the other girl was helping us, blah blah. WTF? My friend and I split the bill, today I checked my bank acct and they charged me the correct amount and them some other random amount. I thought I was done with this place, now I have to call them and get my $ back. Ugh
(2)
Crystal P.

nom nom nom and that about sums it up... Me and Jason D. stumbled upon this place and left full and happy. the hostess as well as the rest of the staff were kind a courteous and the food delish... here is the break down: I ordered the Watercress bella omelette.. YUM! perfect fluffy eggs and the perfect amount of filling very flavorful!! I also partook in the bottomless mimosa the refill service was a lil slow but that's ok because I had work later on in the day anyways. Also a delish plus was the potatoes on the side perfectly cooked!! ANNNND there was no wait at 11am on a Sunday who would thunk!! A+ this joint!!!
(4)
Kevin D.

I was not impressed. 70 bucks for 3 people at brunch is just not cool. This is a Yuppie paradise. I'm not a yuppie. I enjoy a good meal. My steak was bloody rare, nowhere even close to medium rare. I did not enjoy this meal. Service was slow, even though we arrived early (10:30 A.M.) on the Sunday after Halloween party night. The place was practically empty, sans said local yuppies. It took over 20 minutes for them to bring out our Nutella Banana Frites. They were the best part of our breakfast. Order this! It went downhill from there. My mimosas tasted oddly different every time they poured. ( I had 4 - totally non-consistent taste) My g/f ordered the "bottomless" Bloody Mary. Never got a refill. Our waitress disappeared once our food was delivered. Turns out she started tending bar, and pretty much just forgot about us. Unless you live in the neighborhood and have nothing better to do, there's no reason to go here. Weak! 2 stars.
(2)
Benjamin A.

This is fantastic neighborhood fare. The menus for brunch and dinner are completely different. Definitely worth adding to the regular rotation.
(4)
Christine R.

a friend and i have an outstanding sunday brunch date, and we try to make it to as many new places as we can. it's fun for us, and we can build our repertoire of dining experiences. needless to say, we've waited in long lines, and eaten some sub-par brunches. LOKal was a great place and i'll definitely be back! FIRST - when i walked in, none other than RICK BAYLESS was brunching!!! i tried not to go fan-girl and we were immediately seated (at noon on a warm-ish sunday - amazing). i don't want to brag, but i'm a biscuits-'n-gravy connoisseur. i grew up in the midwest and went to school in wisconsin, so i know what i'm talking about. and this was probably the BEST biscuits-'n-gravy i've ever had. it is not traditional - there is ham and tomato stuffed in the middle of the biscuit and the gravy was definitely not the main event of the meal. it will be hard to order anything else from the menu! the only reason that i did not award them the final star is a few picky reasons - and i'd probably rate them a 4.5 if i could. -a brunch place needs a good espresso bar. my americano was subpar, at best. i'd probably steer clear of that next time - and i'll probably order their bottomless mimosa deal or coffee. -the decor is a little weird. -it was really cold. obviously the downsides aren't huge, and i'm sure they'll improve these things as the restaurant matures. i will most definitely be by for brunch and they've intrigued me to try their dinner menu as well!
(4)
Whitney S.

So we went for a hangover brunch on Sunday. My friend and I were late meeting our group, and when we arrived, they had barely touched their food. Well, noooo wonder. It was gross. They had ordered breakfast and said, "meh.." So we ordered lunch. $15 sammy that was just not up to par. Lacked serious flavor and imagination. Same deal for my friend's sandwich. Redemption: Bottomless $8 mimosas. Maybe I'll give it another try for dinner...
(2)
Jeffrey R.

this place was weird. the whole time i was there, they played an unsettling polish-art film that i'm pretty sure included a young ben bernanke
(2)
Jim F.

Went on a Saturday night. It was moderately crowded and the ambience was nice. It would be too loud if the place were packed. Service was excellent. Salads were very presented very nicely with quality ingredients. The pieces of sausage with one of them were very good. Pierogi appetizer just didn't compare to my grandma's. The saving grace of the dish was little chopped up dates. I got the artic char, which was pretty good. Nice crust on it. Side item was some sort of cauliflower with bechamel sauce that could have used more flavor. My date got the pork tenderloin. It would have been great but was completely overcooked. Tough and dry to the point the cook/chef should have known it would be really bad. Signature mixed drinks were pretty good. Probably will not be going back due to combination of small portions, high prices, and poor food preparation.
(2)
Chris S.

Good 6 corner location. Excellent music (Sunday night reggae -- fantastic!). Cheap and decent beer. 'Nuff said.
(4)
Michelle R.

Went here for the first time last night and had dinner. It's a great space and has a nice ambiance. Our waiter (shout out to Thomas) was very attentive and friendly. He was very patient with us and let me try a couple wines before deciding on one (the Rielsing won, and was perfect). We ordered the Pierogies - which were stellar, and the cabbage cakes - which were delicious as well. Overall a great experience and I definitely plan on frequenting this place.
(5)
Ewa W.

I have been planning to take my bf for his birthday to some new exciting place. I found out that there is a new restaurant in Bucktown with Polish food. He likes Polish food and I am Polish, so the choice was pretty good. Even better, when I found a deal on Groupon! The dÃ©cor is modern, almost minimalistic, and the music: "lounge mix". Beer they have on tap: Zywiec! And a nice selection of wines. The waiter was very enthusiastic and talking a lot, but actually was very helpful and knowledgeable. It seems like he had tried every dish couple times and enjoyed it. The menu is not as Polish as I thought. It is rater modern cuisine with Polish flavor. You can choose to order pierogi - they will not be traditionally filled with pork, but rater with beef. Other dishes might not be Polish at all, like mussels we had as a starter, but they were in a tomato sauce with a hint of Zubrowka vodka (Polish vodka with a piece of grass). Overall, I liked combinations offered. I will definitely visit them again. I want to try their brunch service with bottomless mimosas :)
(5)
Kino S.

First we tried Butternut Squash Soup(seasonal) which was just to die for. Then we ordered Grilled London Broil Steak, Cabbage Cakes, and house made Whole Wheat Potato Pierogi. They were all excellent! I highly recommend ordering a few different dishes and share. I'm a huge fan of family style eating!!! I want a bite of every dish on the table. Almost everything we had was mouth happy and satisfying. I haven't had a chance to try their breakfast yet, but looking forward to trying them when I go back to Chicago in May. read more on savorychicks.com
(4)
Suzanne E.

This place was generous with free-drink-and-starter deals at some long-forgotten Yelp event, and when the cards turned up in my purse recently I decided to try using one. After a moment of genuine bewilderment, the manager recognized and accepted it (the thing probably dated back to the Bush administration). I opted for a fancy cocktail and something simple and veggie--spinach pierogi and some sort of open-faced cheese and veg sandwich with an intelligently thick layer of fresh wild arugula on top. Everything was good, including the absence, on a Saturday night around 7:30, of dense crowds and overly loud music. (There were people and music, just not at Lollapalooza volume and density, which can be a rarity in this 'hood at night.) The servers were friendly and professional, and the art I was looking at from my perch made me want to walk over and inspect it. The people at the tables around me were having actual conversations rather than having to yell personal information at each other to be heard. Relaxing.
(4)
Joe C.

I went here for Yelp Eats and was impressed. Overall the food was good - I have never been to a contemporary Polish-style restaurant. I started off with the bizon grass cocktail, and it was awesome. It was very refreshing for the otherwise hot and humid summer evening. For appetizers, we had the polish sausage and the pierogies. The Polish was very tasty, but I wish that the portion was bigger - it was 3 bite size pieces. The pierogies were also very good, and the portion was excellent (about 6). I think they were filled with goat cheese, but it was a very mellow flavor that paired well with the bourbon date sauce. For our mains, I got the pan-seared bass atop couscous and braised fennel. The fennel was awesome - I rarely see fennel on menus. The fish was cooked nicely. The couscous was fine (flavorless on their own, but good with the dish as a whole). My girlfriend got the short rib with the parsnip puree. This dish was super tender and filled with flavor. My girlfriend loved it, but I liked the fish better. The desserts were fine as well. I had the bread pudding, which I never really had before, but I enjoyed it. It was just like French Toast. The portion was pretty big - I couldn't finish it, but I took the remainder home and had it for breakfast (what? it was just like French Toast!). I also liked that they were showing some classic movie above the bar - there was no sound, but the effect of the movie upped the classiness feel to the place.
(4)
lauren r.

My husband and I went to LOKal on Saturday for brunch. We opted out of the bottomless bloody mary's and mimosas, so keep in mind this review is strictly on the food. We love to throw back a few bloody's on a Saturday morning, but he was feeling a little under the weather.... I had the sausage, 2 eggs, and potatoes for $8. They let me substitute polish sausage for regular sausage links. The eggs were poached and cooked to perfection. However, they only had the option of white bread for toast. I am not afraid to eat white bread on occasion- but this was for sure wonderbread! it dissolved in your mouth the second it hit your tongue. And on top of it, they only gave one piece! I'm a carb lover and love good bread... was definitely disappointed. My husband had the LOKal sandwich. The combination of the polish sausage with arugula and egg was delicious. It was served on a french roll, which unfortunately was also soggy. If it had been toasted, it would have been much better as well. To sum it up, bad bread... but everythiing else was good. Would we come back to try the bottomless bloody mary's? You bet! At that time, I'll update my review. Until then....
(3)
Lauren P.

lo-KAL? lo-cul? how exactly it's pronounced, i still don't know -- but i can report on the dinner offerings. we walked in with a party of 5 around 8:30PM on a thursday & it was dead. seemed odd, but didn't bother us. looking at the dinner menu, it's hard to tell if the focus of the restaurant is on small plates (identified as appetizers) or entrees. our self-described "polack" waiter got a little (or very) annoyed when he came by for the fourth time and we still weren't ready to order -- grumbling "whatever!" & stomping away. not sure what the dude's problem was since they weren't even busy. one thing it wasn't hard to agree on? $5 glasses of wine. holler. in the end, we decided to share & ordered just about everything on the menu: - goat cheese risotto: the perfect zip of goat cheese without being overwhelming. very rich as expected. - tuna tartar: loved the little homemade chips/crackers it was served with. would order again. - lobster pierogi: only four pierogis, but they were delicious. one of my favorites of the night. - marinated herring: i am sensitive to fishy-tasting things so i couldn't stomach this one. sorry. - seared scallops: perfectly seasoned, & so good we had to order them twice. although it arrived with one less scallop the second time. ??? - pork belly: i couldn't taste the apple cider glazed it promised. decent. - flounder: nice & flaky, highlighted with a lemon flavor. very good. - bison steak: YUM. i think this turned out to be just about everyone's favorite. served with horseradish mashed potatoes. winner. - endive salad (courtesy of the kitchen:) this arrived to our table by accident, but the waiter said it was one of their most popular dishes. we had so many other great things to try, i don't even remember touching it. i wish i could say we tried dessert too, but i think my pants would have exploded. around 9:30PM, a band(?) began to set up. as the waiter cleared our table, he told us that we should stick around for "super fly." unsure of what to expect, we decided to have one more glass of wine & check it out. around 10PM, it got crowded. real crowded. next think you know, they're screening curtis mayfield's "super fly" on a projector & a live band shows up to play the soundtrack (think 70s porno music - horns & all.) it was an interesting event & an interesting crowd to say the least (good people watching.) i'm just glad we were done with our meal before it started & we could no longer hear each other. oh, and our sassy waiter? he turned out to be the OWNER. wish i was kidding. to be fair, he did mention he wasn't a "pro." i guess i can let the 'tude slide. i'd definitely be interested in coming back for the bottomless mimosa/bloody brunch. i'd also come back for dinner, but i would suggest keeping an eye on the late night events so you don't run into them unexpectedly.
(4)
Bethany F.

I would recommend visiting this restaurant before the late night crowd if you go on the weekend (the music really gets loud when the DJ starts spinning). I walked by a few times, and then decided to try it out, without high expectations. The interior is open and modern. But wow! The food was outstanding. Great service, a really cool Hungarian white wine available by the glass or the bottle, and one of the best steak tartars I have ever had. So yummy! I have been back 3 times now and everything has been great. The scallops and the lamb chops are killer! The owners are super nice, and the staff is great. This is truly a new favorite!
(5)
Liz L.

I went here for brunch with a couple of friends. The service is a little weird here, everyone is really aloof or snotty, can't tell. We walk in and they stare at us for like 5 minutes before asking us if we want a table. The food was okay. We had the the watercress bella omelet, french omelet, and smoked salmon crostini. The omelets were more like egg tortillas wrapped over the other ingredients, don't know if that's good or bad. I could tell that the ingredients were really fresh but the taste wasn't so amazing. Nothing really stuck out and the salmon crostini was definitely something you could make at home. The service continued to be bleh and our waiter took forever to bring us our check. The interior/ambiance was ok, minimalist and modern. I bet it would be really nice at night, but I'll never know because don't think I'll be returning soon.
(2)
Amelia Z.

Some friends and I wanted to go to a place for some bottomless mimosas and bloodies for brunch on Sunday-- and we were pretty impressed with the food (I had the potato pancake which was great-- and only like 7 bucks). However the service was pretty slow; it actualyl wasn't that packed considering it was as Sunday at 1 PM and I dont' think the waiter appreciated that we were treating the drinks like shots and expected them to bottomless; but even the table next to us who had a little kid with them had to wait 30 minutes for thier food (because the order was lost). I would definitely come back but they might as well put a pitcher of mimosas on the table.
(4)
Melissa R.

Went there for brunch and enjoyed the bottomless mimosas.....really, who wouldn't. The food was pretty good, as well. The bf had a steak sandwich and I had chicken on croissant. Not traditional brunch fare, but as someone who doesn't eat eggs, its nice to have those options. A few things that made me detract a couple of stars. We went on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, and were seated in a dark, dimly lit back corner of the restaurant as far as possible from the open windows and breeze.....ummmm, no thank you. So, we moved to the bar. The bartender was nice enough, but had NO IDEA what she was doing. She didn't know the menu or the wine list, but she did keep the mimosas coming. I also don't care for the IKEA inspired decor. Maybe that's just me. I'm not much a hipster. Next time, I think we shall stick to our hood. But thanks to groupon for getting me into Wicker PArk for the afternoon.
(3)
Whitney R.

I'll be honest. Usually when a place has a long wait, slow service and gets a person's order wrong not once, but twice, I'd explode with frustration. But not yesterday. Not when my mimosa was being refreshed every 5 minutes (given the $7 bottomless bloodies/mimosas deal) and when all the food did arrive correctly it was damn tasty. Bottom line is that this is not the place to come if you're looking for a quick bite or have somewhere to be. This is, however, a great spot for a lazy, boozy Saturday brunch. You're sure to leave about two hours later with a happy belly and a delightful buzz.
(4)
grzesiek k.

Just last night i went to LOKAL and i LOVED IT! the place looks great, has great service, the food is to die for and drinks are fantastic.. highly recommend it.. prices are not so bad either! zajebisty lokal! GRZESIEK
(5)
B. B.

One word. Thomas. Let me start by saying, My boyfriend and I dined here for brunch one Saturday morning. It was slow but the service was good. He ordered steak and eggs (good) and I ordered a ham sandwich (also good) with squash hash (a little greasy but AMAZING). We also partook of the bloodmary's (which I thought could have used more worcheshire but were certainly contained sufficient vodka... we had to add money to the meter and hang out for another hour 'til our buzz wore off.) But Here's the rub... we forgot to use our groupon. "Oh well" we thought. " We'll just go again another day". Flash forward to this evening... wanted to use that groupon before it expired. And I am oh so glad we forgot to use it at brunch. Let me start by saying that our server (Thomas) was el primo! He truly enhanced our dining experience. He was so knowledgeable and excited about the menu. He helped us get excited about our meal and to pick some truly delectable dishes. He also guided us in selecting beverage pairings to complement our meals (my bordeaux really did go well). We started with the tuna tartare (clean and rich at the same time). For an entree, I had the seared scallops topped with tomato jam with an egg pasta and pear. The scallops were perfectly prepared and practically melted in my mouth. And the pasta made me drool. He ordered the bone-in pork topped with figgy goodness with a side of roasted veggies. So glad my man is the type that is willing to share. Wow it was good. We ended the meal with the chocolate cake special (and we rarely do dessert!) Thomas recommended a cherry sherry to go with it. The cake was very good, but with the sweet cherry wine it was intoxicating! We will definitely be telling our foodie pals about this meal and you will likely see us there again! I can't believe we came here on a groupon and not by word of mouth!
(5)
Justine N.

Incredible place! I went with a groupon on a busy Wednesday evening, and the waiter was so accommodating. He patiently explained all the different kinds of vodkas their country of origins. The Bizon grass cocktail is a delicious orange-y mojito. Loved it. The pierogis are to die for that I literally wanted to lick the sauce of my plate. I restrained myself in the upscale-ish setting. The steak was a perfect medium and the scallion butter just makes it so much. Dessert was forgettable, but loved just about everything else.
(5)
Rachel H.

Went here with the Groupon that gave you one appetizer, 2 entrees, and a dessert. We started with the pork belly because I read here that it was exceptional. I'm not really a meat eater so it wasn't for me, but BF called it the best he'd ever had (!!) . Everything else we had was really good as well (steak, pierogies, and the chocolate hazelnut mousse/ice cream dessert). What puts it at 5 stars though was our waiter, who was cool and accommodating. I wanted the pierogies as my entree so he let them bring me six instead of the usual four it comes with. I also liked the vibe of the place. They were playing Planet Earth on the back of the bar behind us, which provided a lot of entertainment, and I enjoyed the colorful modern art/photography on the walls.
(5)
Sarah R.

Went here for brunch. Walked in and there were no other people waiting. There were 2 booths and a table open. Stood around for a minute being ignored and a guy behind the bar finally acknowledged us, we said we had two people, and he said there was a booth available in a minute. We waited. Another waitress, a French woman who eventually waited on us, said that there were no tables yet but we could sit at the bar. So we sat at the bar even though there were tables open. Service was really slow, the mimosas were tepid and unappetizing. We ordered drinks first and then it took 20 minutes for the waitress to take our food order. The French waitress was practically running the whole restaurant because the other two servers were completely incompetent. One of the other servers was checking her phone right in front of us while people were waiting for an open table or needed refills. The other server was drinking a beer . We ordered biscuits and gravy and the pork belly and eggs. It was just okay. Food did come out quickly. After I finished eating I sat with my empty and dirty plate in front of me for at least 20 minutes. It wasn't cleared until we asked for a check, despite all 3 servers walking past us regularly. The 3 girls sitting next to me also never had their plates cleared. As we were eating, a lot of other patrons came in to eat and were not seated despite the restaurant having a booth and table open. If they had cleared plates in a timely fashion perhaps they could seat more people instead of making them wait and be ignored. The idea of the place is nice, the items we ordered sounded better on paper than they tasted in reality. I'd try it again if I wasn't so turned off by the lack of service.
(2)
Stefan H.

What are they thinking? They don't seem to keep regular hours and one can't predict when they will be open. This nouvelle, faux fine-dining polish restaurant is sort of, maybe, kind-of... half a fine dining experience. Mostly it is the wrong half: On the one hand the room is pretty nicely handled on a budget. A long narrow space is stylishly assembled with neo 60's furnishings and wall hangings to potentially good effect but the service and atmosphere is extraordinarily bad. My girlfriend and I came in with only two tables occupied and a few people drinking at the bar, expecting that with an untaxed staff we would get the chance to see what the restaurant is really about. Boy did we...The server seemed mostly completely disinterested, and slightly annoyed at our presence (like Americans in Paris). When he did check in he was swearing which certainly didn't offend us, but did seem wildly inappropriate under the circumstances: if this guy was trained in fine dining food service it wasn't in the US or in Poland for that matter. The choice of angry metal at too loud a volume was utterly incongruous and ruinous to anything approaching a fine dining experience. Because my girlfriend is polish our curiosity extended beyond the norm. Some of the dishes were pretty good but the prices were absolutely breathtaking given the simplicity of preparation and the ridiculously miniscule portions. A Kielbasa that one could buy at Wally's market for $5.00 per lb was an incomprehensible $15.00 for what couldn't have been even 1/3 of a lb. Herring salad was tasty and authentic and a braised pork dish was also very good but both were small we left having eaten lightly and without having consumed alcohol, set back a whopping $80.00 At this price one can eat at restaurants like Avec, Riccardo Trattoria, and Sepia to name just a few, and Lokal can't begin to compete with those places in any category. I can't imagine that they will survive and in a way it is a shame. They did enough well to make this author wonder if with more awareness and discipline they might be able to make the grade.
(2)
K S.

We went here for the 5 course tasting menu on a Monday night. What a great deal with great food and wine! For $40 a person, you get 5 courses with 3 glasses of wine. We decided to be adventurous and just get the tasting menu without even knowing what we would be served. Looking at prior tasting menus on their website, we figured it would be good. We were anticipating there may be a "Polish twist" on things; alas, this night there wasn't, but I certainly didn't mind. First course was a delicious butternut squash soup with duck confit and perfect seasoning. Second was a large perfectly cooked scallop over apple risotto; I maybe wanted a little more tang and crunch from the apples but this was creamy and tasty. Third was arctic char, which we had never had before. The skin was so wonderfullly crispy that I almost felt I was eating a great piece of fried chicken at times. I usually don't love or remember a fish dish at a restaurant, but this was better and more memorable than the fish I had at MK. Fourth was a tender, non-fatty short rib over fried polenta with the leaves of brussel sprouts sprinkled about with pink peppercorns. I liked the contrast of textures. Finally, dessert was two small cardamom cakes with macerated berries; this was very simple and a bit of a letdown given the creativity of the other courses. Overall, we both loved our food and thought this was one of the better meals we've had. We enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the food and wine our server provided; he was quite passionate about what he was serving us. We were surprised the restaurant wasn't more crowded given how good the food is and how great this Monday night deal is.
(4)
C C.

This place is like every other "trendy" place that comes and goes in this neighborhood, as it has no real distinguishing characteristics. The place seems amateurish on nearly all aspects. As you enter, there is no real host or hostess to greet you, depending on if you are noticed or not, you may have to track down some sort of employee on your own. Everything about the place lacks focus. They have a projector (image partially blocked by an air vent) that plays black and white films, which is a little kitschy for my taste. The menu is divided into a bites sections, and a bigger bites section and then they have a separate seasonal menu. We tried a few different things for appetizers. The different items we tried tasted pretty well. The appetizers were probably the best thing about the evening. I had the pork chop for dinner. The pork seemed oversalted and nothing accompanied the dish. After the meal, we asked for a dessert menu, but there was none. Apparently they are trying to find a pastry chef. The waitress was nice, but seemed a bit clueless when it came to explaining the menu and she got two of our orders wrong. This is a forgettable place, which I will venture to guess won't be open next year at this time.
(2)
Tess G.

Not only is the food delicious but they accomodated a large group of us for my birthday brunch! The service was great and the bottomless bloodys and mimosas were key. I highly recommend to anyone!
(5)
Roger W.

Our party of 5 was seated immediately for Sunday brunch at 11am (nice!). Unfortunately things went downhill from there. Our waiter took about 10-15 minutes to come to the table. We all ordered coffees and 2 of us ordered bottomless mimosas and one person the bottomless bloody mary. Our waiter said something about being sorry for not getting to us and that there was some back up on the coffee and the drinks might not come out all together. Within 30 seconds we got 1 mimosa. About 5 minutes later the waiter brought over a coffee, apologized that it is in a tiny espresso cup (all the coffee cups are being used) and asked what else we were still waiting for. We told him again what drinks we ordered. We got 2 more coffees and he came back and asked again what we were still waiting for (I'm starting to wonder why he isn't writing down our order). After being at the restaurant for over a half an hour we have all out drinks except for the bloody mary. Most people's 2.5 ounces of coffee are gone and the cups are waiting for refills. Every time the waiter comes to the table he says we are still working on the bloody mary, but it is going to take a while (what?). Eventually the bloody mary comes and we order our food. The waiter does not write it down. Our coffee and mimosas get refilled and we're still waiting for the bloody mary. Finally, the bloody mary comes! The waiter comes back about 10 minutes after taking our order and with pen and paper in hand tries to guess what we ordered and we end up telling him again. Drink refills taper off again. We get our food and everyone is happy with the food except for one dish (4/5 isn't bad). The mimosas and coffees get refilled (now we've had about 3/4 of a cup of coffee). The bloody mary doesn't get refilled and still doesn't get refilled and still. Finally take the bloody mary glass to the bar where we are ignored by three employees avoiding eye contact with us. After asking if someone can help we get a new bloody mary made quickly. The waiter comes back and asks if the bloody mary doesn't taste good because it appears not much has been drunk. He didn't notice that it was empty for a half hour. Eventually, we got the check. We were charged for 7 coffees (there were 5 of us). We were also charged for an extra entree that we didn't order. The waiter said something about the mimosas being hard to ring up (no idea). We paid, left and are sad that the service was so terrible when the food was pretty good. Thanks for apologizing for forgetting our drinks, ignoring us and overcharging us. Oh wait, you just made excuses for why all those things were happening.
(1)
Yolanda D.

Let me say when you advertise bottomless Mimosa's I don't expect you to offer me cranberry and champagne instead because you are out of orange juice. REALLY? The table was dirty I had to get napkin and wipe it down. It was almost ten minutes before we were recognized. The service was TERRIBLE! My "bottomless" mimosa hit rock bottom MULTIPLE TIMES! The food was great, but the service makes this place unworthy of a second time. Dear David, you are a terrible server! Awful experience I will never return.
(2)
Tiffany G.

This place is great! The pictures definitely don't do justice to the actual space. We went at night, and it was perfectly illuminated for a romantic date or just some cocktails. I enjoyed the presence of actual artwork, very lively. There was also live jazz playing in the background. There cocktail list is really fun. I had the Parisan although it is very sweet I've never tasted the combination of caramel and cherry vodka, yum! They also offer $5 glasses of wine on Thursday, but since we were using a Groupon they didn't allow any other deals. We started with the pork belly appetizer, and unlike others I was amazed. It tasted simply like a polish sausage. Regardless we polished it down. The entrees on the other hand were great! The steak is the best, really delicious. We tried the pork tenderloin which also good, simple balanced flavors. We ended the meal with a light desert of chocolate mousse, raspberry puree, and creamy vanilla ice cream. The staff was all very attentive and nice, especially considering I only saw 3 people working front of house. It is a European inspired restaurant, didn't know that upon arrival. Overall good experience would go back.
(4)
N. S.

We had a good salad. Otherwise, the service and food were pretty subpar. The place was understaffed, and it was about 25 minutes after our entrees were delivered before anyone checked to see if everything was okay (which it wasn't). Most of the entrees our party ordered were just fine. Nothing stood out, and and we sent our "butternut squash" risotto back. It was watery, flavorless, overcooked and strangely missing anything remotely butternut squashy.
(2)
Tiff B.

Wanted to try this place and just when I was going to spend my hard earned money and pay full price, Groupon comes to the rescue. Woot, woot! So I go with a friend. Reservations were easy, they seat us all the way in the back in the crappy area by the doors. Eh, it's not the best seat in the house, but not a big deal. We had an appropriately hipsterish server who seemed kinda spacey, but nice enough. She rattles off some specials or something but never mentions that they're out of anything on the menu. We attempt to order glasses of wine listed on the menu. She says they're out of that particular wine. Um, okay. We order other drinks, one of the signature cocktails listed. These take 15 minutes to arrive on our table, but were good, nonetheless. We ordered the peirogis as an appetizer. They were fabulous! Not really authentic peirogis, but so delicious. We then attempt to order our main course (this is after our hipster server disappeared for like another 35 minutes) and after my friend orders, the server tells us that dish isn't available anymore, as they've run out of it. What?!? They have about 7 menu items and they can't keep enough stock to make it to 7:30 p.m.?!? My friend has to order an alternative. The hipster server wasn't even really apologetic about their lack of menu items. Anyway, the duck and grits dish I had was phenomenal. So good that I'm giving Lokal 4 stars despite their semi-crappy service and shortage of items listed on their menu. I didn't even know I liked duck that much.
(4)
katie g.

Went to LOKal for brunch today and had a pretty good experience. Bottomless mimosas and bloodys for 7$, 9$ respectively which were pretty delicious. The place was pretty dead around 10am we got a seat by the window and began our game with the waitress... see if they can refill our drinks before we finish the glass... and they won. everytime. The service was incredible. Very friendly and very attentive. Between the 3 of us we ordered duck confeit, pork belly, sausage and eggs, and nutella frites. The pork belly was very tasty, a bit on the dry side but overall a solid dish. the sausage and eggs were pretty standard, nothing too special except the potatoes that came with it. yum. and the nutella was AMAZING! perfect texture, crisp, flavorful, devine. over all bill was about $70 for 4 dishes and bottomless beverages for 3 (not including tip) we had a groupon which is always a plus. Not sure if we'll be back for brunch compared to the incredible brunches offered by nearby places... Ie. Hot Chocolate, Toast, Deluca... but all in all a pleasurable experience.
(3)
Corey Q.

I got there right at 5 pm when they open because I was headed to a Bulls game that night. I don't typically like to get to a restaurant right when it opens but everything seemed to be in order except for a little menu snafu. We got our menus and two of the entrees were different on one of them. Of course, one of the entrees we wanted was on the menu that was old and no longer was available. The pierogis were a good appetizer and really tasty. I had the bison steak which was done to perfection and really tasty. The mashed potatoes, braised cabbage and the demi all tied the dish together. The pan roasted chicken breast was good but nothing popped. This sounds crazy but the forks at this restaurant almost ruined the entire dining experience for me. They are shaped and weighted in such a way that you cant possibly hold them like you would any other fork. I felt weird trying to use it the whole night and so did my girlfriend. I'm curious if anyone else had this feeling about the forks. Overall a good experience.
(3)
Juliette B.

awesome food. great service. my boyfriend and i went here for dinner last night and it was amazing. definitely try the pierogies and cabbage cakes. i'm really surprised by the bad reviews- our server mentioned that they have a new chef- we both loved this place and would definitely recommend it to others.
(5)
Chris D.

Brunched at LOKal this morning. I ordered the steak salad and my companion had the steak sandwich. We both agreed that the steak was very overcooked. I ordered mine medium rare and it came out welldone. Service was inattentive. The hostess seemed bored and aimless. Not a cozy atmosphere inside. I have no intention of returning.
(3)
J F.

Went here for dinner and had a great experience. The waiter, (sorry I forget your name) was hilarious and since we were one of the one tables very attentive. All the food we had was delicious from the duck confit and scallops for appetizer to the tenderloin and strip for main course. One of the best surprises of the night was the Chocolate Ganache which was incredibly rich. The reason why this wasn't 5 stars was that on the night we went, they were out of 4 of the main course dishes, including my top 3 choices, and with such a small menu to begin with, this just seemed to be too much. In reality they probably deserve to only lose a half star for that since the food that they did have was very well done.
(4)
Natalie K.

I was extremely disappointed after going to Lokal for my second time. I had first been around when it first opened last year, and while the menu was a bit of a mishmash, it had a great variety European fare and was delicious! When a groupon showed up in my inbox, I had to take advantage, thinking it was going to be just as good if not better than last year. Sadly, going there for dinner, I discovered how "vanilla" this menu has become (apparently thanks to the new chef that took over there). Everything was entirely too sweet (for savory dishes!) and the options were so disappointing, it was nearly impossible to pick an entree solely because they all seemed so average... Words of advice to Lokal -- get your old chef back and don't become just another average place without personality in your food, resting solely on your bottomless mimosas...
(1)
beth s.

ate at lokal restuarant and had high expectations. the wine was terrific and more generously poured than in most other places we have eaten, the food was disappointing; the prices way too high for the quatity and quality; and the wait staff provided more information that one would ever want (it almost was like a routine). there are much better places to eat for the price, but even if it were more reasonable, we still wouldn't go back.
(2)
Little T.

The only reason I'm not giving this cute new neighborhood gem 5 stars is because they sort of rushed us out because they had a baby shower coming in. Whatever, i get it. Just felt very rushed and therefore full and kicked out. I've only been on a Sunday and I've only had the $7 bottomless mimosas once, but I will be back. Simple, sandwich, soup and salad combo was an excellent choice at a great price. This place doesn't disappoint. Definitely at the top of my list for my next weekend brunch outing with the girls.
(4)
Rog O.

For some reason I wanted to avoid this place, probably because of the countless times I walked by and it was completely empty. We finally tried it as a group of 5 for brunch this Sunday and I have to say that everything was VERY good and on the whole it was a GREAT value. Definitely should be considered as a solid brunch option if you are in the area.
(4)
marian k.

Having enjoyed dinner here on more than one occasion, I was thrilled to see this restaurant on a daily deal website. I purchased 2 of them. When in the area on business, my husband and I decided to use one of these coupons. The details said to make a reservation and mention the voucher. When I phoned, I was told that the restaurant had no opening at the time I wished to dine. Mind you, at 50+ my husband and I like to eat early and never have this problem. We were still in the neighborhood a half hour later, when I called to see if there had been any cancellations/no shows. A different person answered the phone and reluctantly told us to come on in. We arrived five minutes later (approx. 7pm) to find a very nearly empty restaurant! There were still tables available when we left at 8:30. Judging by what I know about this establishment, I am pretty sure that the first call was answered by the owner. I will use my other coupon before it expires, but on principle I won't return. LOKAL is not the only place out there with good food. This incident really left a bad taste in my mouth!
(1)

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Address : 1904 W North Ave
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone (773) 904-8113
Website https://www.lokalchicago.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :6:00 pm - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Lokal

1904 W North Ave, Chicago, IL, 60622

Lokal Menu

Starters

Salads

Pierogi

Sandwiches

Market Specials

Sides

Desserts

Healthy Meal suggestions for Lokal

Starters

Salads

Pierogi

Sandwiches

Market Specials

Sides

Desserts

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